The nature of Man and Woman (psychology).
Even before typing or writing down my experience with some thoughts, I knew for sure any of us are guilty of this act, we've one way o the other mistakenly or purposely do it. We call it switched in emotions, action base on current situation or mood swing.
It was a sunny Saturday after me and my colleague had just left the office now heading back home exhausted from the lengthy seminar and presentation , we weren't energized enough walking down the pedestrian lane along the road that hot afternoon, me and my partner wasn't really financially able to board a cab.
At some point while walking the long distance we stopped under a fresh green shade for about ten minute chatting and laughing while others came to join feeling relieve after the horrible sun has dealt with us, we joked about wishing for a magic to happen in a form of a ride to just take us all straight to our various destination.
Then surprisingly just as we were about to continue our walk, a car passed by with only the driver inside, on a whim, one of us casually asked for a ride by saying loudly "please we care for a ride sir" but the driver didn't even slow down. We laughed it off, accepting our fate that we had no choice than to keep walking.
To our surprise, we later noticed that the driver had stopped just a little distance ahead, though we didn't initially realized it and there was some shops ahead, so it would look like the driver stopped by to get a few provision, that was just what was in our thoughts. But seeing that no vendor or sellers were close to the car, we thought he had changed he mind and was about to offer us a ride, we hurried towards the car and found out it was a lecturer.
As we approach, we were met not with kindness, but with unexpected hostility. The driver belated us for having to stopped him in the first place and saying don't we see that he was a staff (as if a staff can't be of helping hand), he says that's how we cause more harm to ourselves by expecting a free ride from strangers. I wasn't happy, inside me I was like I should just kept walking passed the car but again what if he actually carried us, so I didn't accuse myself at all. His tone was harsh, and his words stung, we stood there, taken aback wondering why a simple request for help had triggered such a strong reaction.
This encounter left us with mixed emotions. We all had assumed that an elder would be kind or at least indifferent instead we met anger. Maybe there was a quarrel or misunderstanding where he was coming from so emotional imbalance was still there.
However, it also taught us a valuable lesson, people react base on their own experience, stresses and perspective often in ways that have nothing to do with us (personally) at the current situation. Instead of holding unto resentment, we learned to approach such situation with understanding and empathy.
That brief yet humbling experience reshaped my perspective on human interactions. It reminded me that everyone carries their own burdens and sometimes it can't be curtail it burst out uncontrollable.
A learnt a lesson of attitude, empathy and the Unpredictability of human nature. Images are mine.