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200 words, anger, blessed, Calgary, compassion, Diana Schwenk, First World Problems, kindness, Parking space, perspective
I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes – until I met a man who had no feet ~ Jewish proverb.
It had been a long week.
I’d been fighting that nasty bug going around.
I’d had my head stuck in numbers and policies and although this is necessary work and I appreciate its value, I was tired and happy to be going home.
When I got home, my parking spot was blocked by another vehicle.
I felt my blood pressure rise along with my temper and wrote a note that said
“… you’re blocking my spot, can you please call me when you move!”
I found a two-hour parking zone down the block and marched home like a crazy woman on a mission with anger burning in my heart.
Then I remembered that there are those who…
can’t afford a car
don’t have a job
or don’t have a home.
By the time the guy called to say, “I’m so sorry, I thought I’d only be a moment, I’m gone now…”
I replied with, “…thank you so much, no worries!”
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
How is it that I often forget how truly blessed I am?
Reminds me of a time I became hemmed in at my children’s end-of-year day at the beach and I wanted to leave early to take my then baby daughter home for a sleep. A good Samaritan saw my dilemma and ended up giving me a lift home and I picked the car up later that evening. The episode put me through a deal of angst – and I think now….why?
It is amazing how sometimes little inconveniences – in the grand scheme of things – throws us off guard.
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Totally understandable though! Kids add a whole other level of urgency to our every day lives. How nice that a good samaritan helped you out though right? There are such good people in this world!
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Beautiful. We should all do this, whenever we come across moments like this.
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Well I’m not sure how well I would have handled it had I found him before I calmed down! Thanks for stopping in darlin’
xo
Diana
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Glad you found your calm spot, however the image of you stomping down the block, steam venting from your ears did make me chuckle.
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Thinking back on it has the same affect on me!
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Good for you, Diana. Please keep modeling such kindness and forgiveness for me.
Russ
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haha I will try!
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Good reminder – to check our blessings, it is amazing how many we have! 😉 I felt your frustration – glad it worked out as a lesson, isn’t God wonderful?
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He sure is!
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But check how quick you observed your anger and shifted it into a different energy! Wow! Haha this is so funny story, while I was reading the post I imagined you marching home. You wrote it so well. My version would defiently include banging a door or two, throwing my keys on the table to underline the frustration and cursing like a sailor. 🙂
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haha I was pacing in my house, a hundred ways to write the note popped into my head…I thought about knocking on every apartment door and asking hey you got someone here blocking my spot? When I’m angry, I walk so fast no one can keep up!
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There’s something about cars…and things ‘around’ cars…that lead many people to attend an anger management class or two 🙂
Any negative experience within a vehicle is immediately blown up tenfold, leaving you with feelings of actual hate and pure loathing.
I know the feeling well and am unfortunately good buddies with the reaction and the emotion that comes with it.
I shall TRY to remember your words with clarity Diana, when faced with the simmering resentment of another ‘dumb’ driver 🙂
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The truth is we never know what is causing another driver to behave the way they are. For all we know they just got the most devasting news ever. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
xo
Diana
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You are not alone many of us forget how lucky we have it more so when we are tired or feeling less then100%………..
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true enough, even the richest or those who have everything sometimes feel they are lacking…actually it seems the more we have the more we feel like we’re lacking sometimes…
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Excellent story with an excellent reminder Diana! Thank you! ~Gina
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Thank you Gina for all your encouragement – here and over at your blog!
xo
Diana
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I love the way you quickly go to the really important things in life – a parking space is nice, but not really so important 🙂
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and not the end of the world haha
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Great post and reminder, D. I try (don’t always succeed) to take a deep breath and consciously say what I’m grateful for. Another thing to be grateful for — that you did have the time to “cool down” so that by the time the person who did take your spot called, you were in a much calmer place. It worked out best for the both of you. Sometimes things work out that way. Hope you’re feeling better. I know once I’ve been ill, I’m so grateful when I feel better!
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Thanks Brigitte – I am also grateful I used the word please in the note and refrained from swearing and name-calling! The written word has a way of coming back to bite you in @$$!
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I suspect that for many people (certainly for myself), an angry reaction isn’t uncommon. The key is giving yourself a chance to calm down. That old “count to ten” thing had a good purpose. I frequently find that the moment my brain actually kicks in, my anger fades and dies.
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What a great way to put it and yes when the brain or common sense kicks in the anger does fade…
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Love this…for a few reasons and glad you shared. Moments like this help keep us all centered and focused on what’s most important. 🙂
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Yes and then we must forgive ourselves, at least I had to, for being petty and work to respond to the next situation more appropriately!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Bonnie!
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I love this.. we don’t realise what we have till we no longer have it… so many times I look around and see those that are worst off than I am… and I thank God for what I have, I might think I should have more, but when you see others worse off, you realise how lucky you are…
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It is so true isn’t it?
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Good for you! Feel better!
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Thanks Lisa! Hey I saw that the Reader’s Choice blog’s writer sent readers to one of your posts today – congratulations!
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you are a kind person. Hope you feel better.
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I try and thank you!
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Sorry but I still want to punch him in the nose!
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haha! I’m just glad I couldn’t find him when I first got home!
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Good response. 🙂
BTW — my father had a small painting with that quote on it. It hung on the kitchen wall no matter where we lived.
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Now that sounds like a story! I wonder when he first got it and what it meant to him. Was it related to the depression? Something his father taught him?
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