Ajahn Brahm mentioned in one of his talk that when you experience some hardships or pain or not pleasant experience, you should thank them and call them teacher. For example when mosquito kept buzzing near you, biting and sucking your blood, it teaches you patience and compassion.
Recent experience that I have was trying to help out on some situation. I was asking around for help because of I don’t have capacity to perform and commit 100% to it due to other priorities.
Most of them were quite helpful giving me pointers and advice, but the one say yes to help me was giving me nasty comments, and harsh word.
Let’s call that person as A.
A out of sudden, dictates I need to do this and that. I asked why it has to be this or that way, and A becomes more and more upset.
The situation is not life threatening or emergency, just that when you do it sooner, it will be better. It was A who makes it urgent and needs to be taken care immediately.
And when A started to ask demand me this or that, I started to question the details. Which I find it normal to do as I don’t understand or know the details. Yet, I received harsh words. I felt that giving me unnecessary stress for the amount of the effort which doesn’t translate to the monetary value and help from A.
In the end, I decided to call it off. And A even more angry saying I’m wasting their time and so on.
And in the long reply A gave me, A started to pull race card and so on. How silly. I’m sorry if she felt that way.
I explained to A, we are all bounded by our situation and priority. If I can, I won’t turn seeking help from you. I can’t commit more than what I can, therefore I’m looking for help. But yet A started to ask for more.
That’s fine. I was hurt yesterday but I’m fine now.
On the other hand, I started to understand that good publicity over something is not necessarily mean something is good. There are many others who just do it.
Lastly, the amount of dispute was around $50. Plus the time, plus the unnecessary stress and unhappiness A gave me.
Thanks for the life lesson.
