Comments on: A Work In Progress – At Sea

By: Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:21:25 +0000

It’s so interesting that each moment gives us opportunities to learn about ourselves, each other, the world. It’s one of the things I just love about life

To me, it sounds like you made a deliberate and conscious decision to be kind and that’s not at all wuss out. That you are asking the question would make me think there’s some value in considering, “where in my life do I wuss out”?

I bet we’d all come up with interesting answers to that one. I know I’m wussing out when my heart’s pounding and I’m feeling the need to say something, and I sit on it.

Thank you for sharing the moment

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:02:20 +0000

I would have reacted exactly the same way as you did, and it is only in hindsight that we can come up with the perfect response, but maybe it would have been better to demonstrate to the postal worker a more appropriate way of dealing with the door by offering to post a sign to the door saying it was out of order, if he would kindly print it for you.... People in such crappy jobs usually hate their jobs, and don't have great coping skills either, so any little thing makes them angry instead of dealing with the problem and putting it aside. Offering to help by taking the sign over to the door and taping it on for him might have given him an example of how to deal with the broken door appropriately, and also would have brightened his day.

Remember, I would have done EXACTLY what you did, but it seemed like a good idea to take a more proactive approach on reflection.

By: Cris, Artist in Oregon

Cris, Artist in Oregon — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:53:37 +0000

I think you handled the situation good. One might have wanted to say something nasty back or like you say post a note that could have come out nasty sounding, but they might have just made it worse and quite frankly my motto is.. “When a ‘fool’ opens his mouth he removes all doubt”. and EVERYONE in that post office had no DOUBT about that postman. How kind you were to the man with the packages and the fool. )

By: Ananda Leeke

Ananda Leeke — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:10:38 +0000

leah, your sailboat makes me wish i could get on it and sail away to a sunny island. it is raining in dc today. so the sailboat would do me good. your observations about what happened with the postal worker and folks in the post office made me think of how we each have a choice to use our reactive mind or responsive mind. Our reactive mind is the one that just responds without thinking. If I am happy, my reactive mind moves up. If I am unhappy, my reactive mind moves down. I am a puppet on the end of strings… moving based on my emotions. For me that’s the part of me that can get me into trouble. My reactive mind fails to use wisdom and discernment. My responsive mind is the part of me that takes a deep breath before responding. It allows me to witness what is going on around me. I am able to hold all emotions and experiences in my body, mind, spirit, heart, and breath. My responsive mind allows me to be still. It gives me balance so that when I do respond to people and experiences, I do so from a place of peace. It is a journey I am still taking.

By: kim mailhot

kim mailhot — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:13:27 +0000

Hi Leah ! Your ocean piece is coming along so beautifully ! I love the presense of the woman, rising up over chaos. Kind of like you did today, huh ?

I think it is amazing that you were able to keep your cool, protect yourself from the anger darts going around, and send genuine kindness towards this guy who must have really needed that !

I am still trying to figure out what to do with anger too. Don't want to deny it, don't what to hurt others, don't want to swallow it, and don't want to direct it towards myself (my biggest MO in the end !!!). Maybe just acknowledging it and then re-directing it's energy into something positive (like sending kindness) is the way to go...Sure ain't always easy though, is it ????
The universe is sure sending your some interesting lessons !
Cheers !

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:33:36 +0000

I probably would have said something. I think peace is best and honestly, I like it when things go smoothly and everyone plays nice with each other. But, that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, I think we’ve (society) gotten to the point when we just “allow” people to act like jerks because we don’t want to confront them or have a fight or upset others or whatever. I see that as the push – let it go, kill them with kindness, not tell them that their behavior is unacceptable to everyone around them. But then again, I’m a wolf’y kind of woman. Wolves are very peacefull by nature, they avoid fights when they can, but they also will kick your butt if you bother them enough.

Now, all that being said. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to act. You have to be true to you. And I believe that you were. Plus, some people just don’t get it, no matter how many times you tell them that their behavior is hurtfull. So, it’s not worth the energy or the upset to your own system.

You’re right, perhaps this guy is sick or has a sick wife or child. Perhaps he’s losing his home or he’s worried about money or his job. Perhaps he’s just a grump. We need grumps in this world too ~ if they weren’t here, we wouldn’t be able to know ourselves as “not grumpy.”

Here’s to hoping your future visits to the post office are more peaceful!

~Wild’ness~
Melissa

By: Serena

Serena — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:53:03 +0000

I love your artwork in progress, Leah!

Interesting experience at the post office. At one stage, I would have taken it personally and carried 'it' around with me like a heavy burden for the rest of the day.......however, since reading Eckhart Tolle's books and now, Soul Coaching, I would have probably done what you did.

love, light and peace,
Serena

By: Jul

Jul — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:54:35 +0000

I’m glad you shared that story – it lets me know I’m not the only one who (over?)thinks such situations. And I think responding with kindness is almost always a good idea, even though it’s not always easy.

By: Helen

Helen — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:43:26 +0000

Yah, I think you did the right thing. It's interesting that you felt kind of guilty because you wondered that you may have "wussed out of a confrontation". I think confrontations are over-rated. They generally result in the confronter feeling vindicated and powerful, which may not be a bad thing, but in the process a lot of unnecessary stress is created.
You chose to overcome evil with good. Good for you. That man, and the other people in the post office, may remember your small act of kindness (or not)and that might help them to overlook another person's bad behaviour.

By: miss*R

miss*R — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:42:56 +0000

maybe your peaceful reaction caused him to go home and think about how he was.. maybe your peaceful attitude made him feel peaceful too... like a ripple effect.

it is always difficult to be nice to people.. sometimes I feel like flying off the handle and I do.. but I am trying harder each day to look at my reactions differently.

I remember a few years ago, while doing yet another self help book.. it said to smile at all those you met that day.. I did that and one woman said to me 'what the hell are you smiling at?' - had to laugh.. I knew exactly what she meant.