Below is a delightful story of what can happen when we get too wrapped up in ourselves and forget the perspective of those around us. Far too often we make snap judgments of others while giving ourselves every out imaginable. How we choose to respond to others, regardless of what the visual indicators or perceptions might suggest, speaks volumes about what it going on within us.
THE COOKIE THIEF
A lady was travelling for business and she arrived at the airport with plenty of time to catch her flight. To her dismay the security line-up was twice as long as usual and by the time she got through and close to her gate there wasn’t a lot of time. She knew she needed to eat something but the line-ups at the food counters were long but she saw that there was no line-up at the cookie counter. She quickly rushed over and purchased a small bag of cookies and once at her crowded gate she found a seat beside an elderly gentleman.
Finally with 10 minutes to herself she put the bag of cookies on the floor beside her briefcase and reach down to take one out of the bag. No sooner had she got the cookie to her mouth then the elderly gentleman reached down and took a cookie from the bag and started eating it. She was in shock, how could someone just help themselves to someone’s food without even asking? She began to get angry and reached down for another cookie, at which time the elderly gentleman reach down and helped himself to another cookie. She was now outraged as she sat there trying to enjoy her cookie.
This back and forth “match” went on until there was only 1 cookie left in the bag. Certainly this man could not be so bold as to take the last cookie, but no sooner had this thought passed her mind the elderly gentleman reached down, took the last cookie, broke it in half, handed her the bigger piece and after finishing his half got up, smiled at her and walked away.
She was now utterly shaking with anger….how dare he steal her food without even a thank you. He was probably off stealing some other poor unsuspecting strangers food and she cursed herself for not saying anything. Just then it was time for her to board her plane and as she got up to pick up her briefcase she noticed her bag of cookies sitting on the floor right where she had left it. All this time it was she who had been stealing his cookies and he was not only fine with it he was happy to share….
Be careful how you react to others…..find the good in people but above all….
MAKE SURE YOU’RE EATING THE RIGHT COOKIES!!!!
Our lives are a running commentary of our internal dialogue while we interact with those around us. What does how you treat others say about what is inside of you? Beware of snap judgments, be leery of past prejudice, be swift to forgive, be slow to anger, be happy and attempt to share it with others.
Filed under: EDGE articles Tagged: | judgment, perception, perspective, reality, selfishness
