Sometimes it's the littlest of things that can throw you off. Today I had the misfortune of being on the receiving end of what I can only assume was some one's very bad day. Apparently, in this particular person's life... manners are an option. And my encounter with this person threw me completely off... and basically ruined my evening. That said... as I was reeling from that experience... I had to stop at a different place on my way home, and encountered a simply wonderful person who went out of their way to be nice.
And it got me thinking. How is it that one seemingly small incident... can really change your whole outlook on something. Now... it had gotten me so upset... that I allowed it to ruin an otherwise great day out. And... that certainly is my fault. I had absorbed so much of this person's bad energy and hatred... and it so effected me.
Thinking back on it... there was nothing I could have done to have avoided the situation... but I definitely could have done better about my reaction to it.
Life is short. In fact, too short to allow other people to hurt me in this fashion... especially from a complete stranger. The "good" part is... as I was mostly unaware of the situation until after the fact... I did not react to this person's drama at all at the time... this situation could easily have escalated if I had known comments were directed at me... and lashed back.
I have always been a sort of "emotional sponge"... picking up on other people's energy all too easily.
I think part of becoming more mindful (*my word for the year)... is to not only be aware of other people around me so that I can avoid certain situations and drama... but also to be aware of when I get upset... IE: is this my emotion... or something I am getting from someone else.
Then... I can take a step back... clear the air... clear the potentially negative energy... and move on. Knowing that
a. if the situation IS due to a fault of mine... I can rectify whatever I have done... OR
b. if this is something I have no control or responsibility for... move on. Let it go.
And on a completely separate note.... the other night I was visiting Old Towne... and was fortunate enough to get these photos (just above.. and just below). The top photo is from my drive in Placitas the other day...
As a tie-in... they are all "blue"... and remind me tonight that I can't let other people get me down (or blue)...
*photos by Elaine A. Russell