165. Past
Vignette
Impatience
I try not to eat pizza often, but weakened this time and ordered two slices from a nearby place that made it New York style. Upon picking it up, the storefront was crowded and I hadn’t been there in quite a while, and thinking I wouldn’t be recognized, I blurted out “are my slices ready?” He then said “I'm doing fine” even though I hadn’t asked him. A few sentences later I said to him he “was just being a wise ass.”
The principle here was I was calling it as it was, being direct and blunt, not mushy. This is supposed to be a good thing, but, often isn’t. Often I’m wrong when I confront people. I might be cut off driving 9 times and the 10th time make a conscious decision to say something and I find out it’s out of place.
This young man basically wanted recognition, to feel important, to be remembered and acknowledged and I acted coldly and he was hurt. And then my blunt comment showed my callousness. So, contrary to what you’d normally think, standing up to people, correcting them, often flies in one's face. Instead of being corrected, the people see me as arrogant.
Later he asked me how I was doing and I said weaving and dodging while things around me collapse. He said if you’re weaving and dodging then you’re doing ok.
My impatience had been forgiven.
Vignette
Impatience
I try not to eat pizza often, but weakened this time and ordered two slices from a nearby place that made it New York style. Upon picking it up, the storefront was crowded and I hadn’t been there in quite a while, and thinking I wouldn’t be recognized, I blurted out “are my slices ready?” He then said “I'm doing fine” even though I hadn’t asked him. A few sentences later I said to him he “was just being a wise ass.”
The principle here was I was calling it as it was, being direct and blunt, not mushy. This is supposed to be a good thing, but, often isn’t. Often I’m wrong when I confront people. I might be cut off driving 9 times and the 10th time make a conscious decision to say something and I find out it’s out of place.
This young man basically wanted recognition, to feel important, to be remembered and acknowledged and I acted coldly and he was hurt. And then my blunt comment showed my callousness. So, contrary to what you’d normally think, standing up to people, correcting them, often flies in one's face. Instead of being corrected, the people see me as arrogant.
Later he asked me how I was doing and I said weaving and dodging while things around me collapse. He said if you’re weaving and dodging then you’re doing ok.
My impatience had been forgiven.
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