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Jan. 17, 2005 “It takes so little to mean so much.” Anonymous. A few weeks ago, I stopped by my local cleaners to pick up some items I had previously dropped off. In paying for the tab, I accidentally misread the ticket and shorted the attendant by $2.00. She looked at me with contempt, as if I were trying to rob her! When she nastily handed the ticket back to me and pointed to the price, I immediately recognized my error and apologized. I left my order and returned home to get the remaining money to cover the bill. It never occurred to her that in my haste, I made a simple, honest mistake. Even though I had been a patron of the cleaners for more than a decade, without incident. Shortly thereafter, I was at a friend’s place and made an innocent comment about her needing to get her carpet cleaned. Not a malicious one; that’s just not my style. We ended up having a disagreement that was really hurting and disappointing. This same friend sends me the most beautiful birthday cards every year saying how I am “the nicest person she knows” and how proud she is to be associated with me. What happened to that person? Did she, with a slip of the lips cease to exist? Somehow I don’t get it! What is it about human nature that causes people to be such cynics? To hear a negative rumor about someone and immediately assume it’s true. To see someone on the news who’s been accused of a crime and immediately convict him. To have someone point out a mistake in grammar and consider it a malicious, personal attack. Is it possible that because we are different people, with differing viewpoints and different sensibilities, offend without intending? To assume the position that others are always trying to harm says more about the victim than the perpetrator. Next time someone does something that ruffles your feathers, don’t react with rudeness or roughness. With a little intelligent dialogue and benefit of the doubt, you may find that it was just a simple misunderstanding! It goes a long way towards improving human relations. (Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) ------------ About the author: Jennifer Brown Banks is an award-winning poet and popular feature writer. She is the founder and president of Poets United to Advance the Arts. Her upcoming book of poetry, "A Paradox in Pink" is scheduled to be released in Spring 2005. Email: jenniferwriter@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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