What I don’t understand is why these faceless conductors find it necessary to blow their trains’ horns, (http://www.dieselairhorns.com/sounds/BM_RS-3B.mp3) nonstop, while doing so! Don’t they know that I don’t have to be up for another three hours… AND it’s Saturday!
Anyway, I’m up now, and I’ve got some time to kill.
And this has given me something to write about… and time to write about it...before my day "officially" starts.
Let’s talk about my “it’s all about me” mentality (i.e., the self-interest perspective) that we (all) carry around with us everywhere we go. I contend that it's not just me that does this, but everyone does it.
Case in point... At the office this week, I went to two word processors with a lost document problem. Let’s call the word processors Jackie and Jill, because that’s not their names.
Jackie helps Jill help me retrieve the lost document. At the end of it all, Jackie turns to me and announces that she thought that their help was worth some Baklava (a rich, sweet pastry). I gladly agreed and told her I'll bring in some the next day.
Jill was adamant about me not bringing any in. “Don’t you dare! You’ll be in sooo much trouble if you do!”
Jackie responds, “But she lives for trouble! What would make tomorrow different from any other day?”
I agreed, “Too true.”
Jill gets herself all worked up. “I’m warning you! You better not bring that stuff in! I mean it! You’ll be in so much trouble with me!!!”
Jackie gives me her pouting-lip look and, sadly, takes back her request for Baklava.
Let me clarify something here. Jill didn’t want me to bring the sweets in, not because it was against the rules. She just didn’t want them around because if they were there, she’d eat them. She figured that if she can’t control herself, she’ll control the environment around her. Yes, this would deny everyone else the treats as well — but, she wouldn’t be tempted.
Since "trouble" is my middle name and Jackie always brings treats for everyone else and Jackie was the one who figured out how to solve my problem and she really wanted the Baklava… I decided to bring it in for her. It was going to be up to her whether she wanted to share it with the group or take it home with her.
So, with that rationalization, I brought the treats in the next morning and slid the tray onto Jackie's desk without anyone noticing.
Later, when I went into the word processing room, I was greeted by Jackie's thankful smile and Jill's screeching voice. Jill started yelling at me for bringing in the Baklava after she specifically warned me NOT TO BRING IT IN!!! I’m really in BIG, BIG trouble with her!!!
I have all the word processors staring at me, at this point. They were all eager to see how I was going to handle the WRATH OF JILL!!!!
I turned to Jackie and said, “I brought the Baklava specifically for you, Jackie, not for Jill, because Jill specifically said she didn’t want it. Jackie, you have the choice to share them with everyone, or you can keep them for yourself. It’s your choice.”
Jackie pointed to the tray of treats that were already on the table, “I’m sharing them with everyone.”
Then I addressed Jill. “Jackie is graciously sharing the treats with the group. Now, Jill, you don’t have to have any, if you don’t want any. It’s your choice. It’s up to you.”
The rest of the group looked at me, then at Jill. Jill’s eyes got so big... but she said nothing. There was nothing left to say but concede. Teasingly, she hangs her head down in shame.
We were all laughing at that because we knew we're all guilty of doing the same thing. We all try to control the environment around us, instead of concentrating on controlling ourselves.
It's what we do. We constantly overestimate our ability to change others and underestimate our ability to change ourselves.
But still... I don't think that trains should be allowed to wake me up early on a Saturday morning!!!
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