The Last Word

As this is a blog about expanding our knowledge with regards to religion, ethics and morals, I feel it's important to take a moment to write a post about knowing ourselves, and learning to control our emotions. We have all been in a situation that makes us frustrated or irritated. Someone cutting us off on the road, somebody taking too long in the line at the grocery store, rude costumer service at a department store. How do we react to these everyday annoyances? It is only human to feel a sense of anger. Most people will speak up and make that anger known to the other person. Many people use cruel words, unkind gestures and even threats. However, are these instant, emotional reactions truly necessary?

Do you ever feel embarrassed or guilty after you have exploded with anger? This is most likely a sign that the situation could have been handled differently, and more important, it could have been handled better. Do we ever learn from our guilty conscience? Or do we think that because we got the last word in that makes us somehow better than the other person? But really, how does that make you any better of a person? You may feel better at the moment for having "one upped" your opponent, but in the end, who is the one who looks like a fool?

The other day I was told a story that really made me think. A man was having lunch at a near by fast food joint and struck up a conversation with one of the employees. This employee told the kind customer how just a few moments ago he had to deal with a very angry, very upset costumer. The employee expressed that he could not do anything for the rude costumer which only made the situation escalate. The kind costumer told the employee that he did nothing wrong in the situation and that he hoped the rest of his day would be better. After their discussion he went on and finished his lunch. Before he left he went up to order a smoothie from the same employee he talked to earlier. He ordered his one smoothie, and when the employee returned, he handed the kind costumer 2 smoothies, free of charge. He said "Sometimes it pays to be nice."

It would be an interesting experiment to test certain situations with acting angry, compared to acting kind and understanding. Even if in the end, you didn't necessarily get what you wanted, if you acted kind and understanding, don't you think you would feel better about yourself? And more importantly, the other person would feel good as well. Is it really worth it to ruin someone elses day just because you think it will make you feel better? People today are so concerned with being the one who gets the last word in they forget the bigger picture. Not realizing that one little rude thing to one person can affect so many people. Who would ever want to be the root cause of such a negative line of events?

If every person looked within themselves and found the ability to rationally react rather than emotionally react, the would could actually be a better place. If every person changed such a small thing about themselves, it could have a positive change that is so vast, we might just be able to say the peace is possible. But can you really be the "bigger person" and choose to not be the one who get's in the last word? Or is pride more important than respect, values and peace? It's up to you to decide how to react in your next frustrating situation.