One evening I was returning with my son in our car from Mamangalam in Kochi. From Mamangalam Church we took the by-road to avoid heavy traffic at Palarivattom. As we took the narrow road,two youths in a bike were just behind trying to overtake while a few vehicles were in the opposite side denying them an opportunity. He continued to honk as if it was my duty to give way for them in a situation where there was no space. As we reached an intersection, one leading to my house and the other to Edapally, those guys overtook my car and I didn't seem to notice. But from the corner of the eye I could judge that they were trying for some verbal abuse. But since I avoided a direct look, they lost that opportunity. May be their tempers and heart rates were high leading to higher stress. But I had no reason to be victim of their stress or bad road behavior.
Previously, I used to react to such people on the road but after listening to mind re-engineering guru and author, Santosh Nambiar at a session in KITCO and after reading his book In Between Thoughts, I decided that this was not the appropriate response.
At the Movie Exit
People are eager to leave a theatre even before the closing titles of a movie appear on screen. The other day in Nedumangad, I had an experience after watching the popular movie, Njan Prakasan.Being a small theatre and with only two exits, it was taking a bit longer for people to get out. I went along my seating row towards the exit and a long queue of ladies and kids were coming from the top and one line of people going out from the centre. I thought the ladies should get priority and I was in no hurry to get out. One lady two steps behind me was urging me to interrupt the flow and get out fast as she had to go out and take her vehicle to make way for other vehicles. I purposefully ignored that request or demand. I heard her saying 'we are trapped, we can't go forward or backward'.
At the Hospital
People have lost their patience and consideration for other people and I would like to cite another example I had when I took my daughter Diyah who was sick to a nearby hospital. After seeing the doctor we were waiting at the pharmacy when a person behind me objected a lady trying to pay through a side queue. She said she stood there only because there was another person ahead of her and the counter staff was catering to both the queues even though there was only one authorised queue.The lady was not willing to admit her mistake even as several people in the main queue who had come earlier were still waiting for their turn.
Lot of stress can be taken off our lives by shutting off from anger, anxiety, unpleasant behavior of others.
Previously, I used to react to such people on the road but after listening to mind re-engineering guru and author, Santosh Nambiar at a session in KITCO and after reading his book In Between Thoughts, I decided that this was not the appropriate response.
At the Movie Exit
People are eager to leave a theatre even before the closing titles of a movie appear on screen. The other day in Nedumangad, I had an experience after watching the popular movie, Njan Prakasan.Being a small theatre and with only two exits, it was taking a bit longer for people to get out. I went along my seating row towards the exit and a long queue of ladies and kids were coming from the top and one line of people going out from the centre. I thought the ladies should get priority and I was in no hurry to get out. One lady two steps behind me was urging me to interrupt the flow and get out fast as she had to go out and take her vehicle to make way for other vehicles. I purposefully ignored that request or demand. I heard her saying 'we are trapped, we can't go forward or backward'.
At the Hospital
People have lost their patience and consideration for other people and I would like to cite another example I had when I took my daughter Diyah who was sick to a nearby hospital. After seeing the doctor we were waiting at the pharmacy when a person behind me objected a lady trying to pay through a side queue. She said she stood there only because there was another person ahead of her and the counter staff was catering to both the queues even though there was only one authorised queue.The lady was not willing to admit her mistake even as several people in the main queue who had come earlier were still waiting for their turn.
Lot of stress can be taken off our lives by shutting off from anger, anxiety, unpleasant behavior of others.
No comments:
Post a Comment