I just left Starbucks, where I was to meet with a new business contact. In South Florida, there seems to always be a traffic delay somewhere, so I usually give people 10 minutes before I call to find out where they are. Coming up on the 9-1/2 minute mark, my phone rang. It was the person I was to meet and she asked if I was there. I knew right away she was going to say she wasn’t coming; I was mentally preparing for some kind of lame excuse, since that’s what usually comes next.
I was not prepared for her to say her dad died on Sunday and she’s in Chicago. Immediately my perspective changed from “doesn’t this person respect my time” to “holy cow, don’t even worry about not meeting with me you have so many more important things to do”! I’m surprised and grateful she even thought to call me – she said she doesn’t know why our meeting just popped into her head right then.
One of my mentors told me a story years ago, about some rowdy kids on the subway early one morning. The man riding with them was doing nothing to control their behavior and a fellow rider was becoming increasingly annoyed. After a while, the fellow rider finally caught the man’s attention. The man quickly apologized for his children’s activity and explained that they’d all spent the night at the hospital where their mother had just died. The kids were full of anxious, fidgety energy.
Talk about a turnaround in perspective.
It only takes an instant to change your perspective. So whether it’s from annoyance to compassion or from frustration to gratitude, see if you can find what serves your higher good in every situation.
May 12, 2009 at 10:00 am
Lori-
Great post! I’ve actually experienced some of this type of thing in my personal life in the past year. People make judgements when they don’t know what’s going on in your life. It’s really easy to do and it’s not meant maliciously, but it happens naturally.
I know I have learned from my experiences to try to not judge as I don’t know what’s going on with someone else.
In gratitude!
Deanna
May 13, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Lori,
Your post is a great one and reminded me of something I had forgotten – along a slightly different vane but similar principal. Maybe it even goes with your post on “You never know who’s listening.”
The phone rang yesterday afternoon and I was troubled about something. It showed in my voice as I answered, “hello,” with no less than an apparently agitated tone. The caller was my Sensei at my Karate school. THE last person I would want to hear me in that horrible frame of mind. He is an important mentor to me and well..yikes! I was embarrassed and I could tell he was apparently taken aback at my tone as he paused and had to clarify he had called the correct number.
The lesson I learned was how important it is that I be courteous and kind at all times – you never know who is calling. It could be someone important!
Thanks for inspiring the best in us Lori!