G'day Comrades
Just thought I'd share an experience I had today...
My partner who has MS doesn't drive anymore so I'm designated driver.
So she maintains a level of independence I regularly take her where she wants to go then sit on a camping chair next to our ute and read while she does what she wants or needs to do.
This morning while reading I was approached by a bloke who said he was homeless and asked for a small amount of money. While fossicking around looking for money a security guard approached and moved on the bloke who was asking for money.
At this point I must disclose my healthy disrespect for authority, especially police and security.
Admittedly I may have come across as a little aggressive at first as I asked what exactly my potential new friend was doing that was so wrong.
Cue security turning his attention towards me.
As any reasonable person with any self worth would do I refused to give my personal details and questioned thoroughly the authority under which I was being interrogated, the exact nature of behaviour that I had displayed in sitting next to a ute reading that warranted his questioning and made a genuine enquiry as to whether he had something better he could be doing. I also suggested he call police if he thought my behaviour (sitting on a chair reading) to be threatening.
At this point I verbally acknowledged that I could have come across as aggressive at first and took ownership of that. He thanked me for my apology at which point I corrected him by reiterating that I took ownership of possibly coming across as aggressive at first.
He walked off stating that he was reporting me to management and I returned to reading.
At no point did I swear, raise my voice or lose my crap at this security guard which is something I'm quite proud of. Not so long ago I wouldn't have been as accommodating, respectful or in all honesty, peaceful.
The test of my Bodhisattva vows has less to do with the interaction and how I handled it and more to do with the feelings that came up an hour or so later. Let's just say that my language was colourful and there was a strong sense of frustration in my deviation from past behaviour and responses. I feel like I'm fighting myself in a significant way and being able to reflect on this is adding to the frustration where I was hoping to find solace.
Gassho
Onka
sat today/didn't beat up a security guard
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