I'm Trying

It has been a day of mixed blessings. Late this morning, on my way to have an early lunch with an acquaintance, I noticed drivers downtown were impatient. They honked at other drivers and pedestrians in designated crosswalks. Where was the holiday spirit?

After a wonderful lunch, I walked home with the sun shining brightly on my face. I decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and walk my dog, Prise, early. Upon returning home, I quickly changed into my walking attire and headed out the door with Prise prancing at my side; she knew we were going for a walk.

I decided we would first stop at the grocery in the hopes we would avoid rush hour traffic. I was surprised how heavy traffic was this early in the day and equally surprised how people were responding to each other. Not once on the way to the store would drivers allow me to merge into my turn lane which meant I had to take a longer route to the store. During this time, I observed people using obscene sign language at each other. When I finally managed to arrive at the store, the parking lot was full. While waiting for a car to pull out of parking space, I turned on my indicator to let other drivers know my intentions. Just as the vehicle cleared the parking space another vehicle pulled into the spot. I found another parking space and walked into the store with Prise, who is a professionally trained hearing dog. After retrieving the food items I needed, I was walking to the check-out counter when a gentleman ran into Prise with his shopping cart. Prise immediately helped out in pain. The gentleman responded angrily, informing me dogs were not allowed in the store and his behaviour only seemed to escalate. A store employee and several customers were kind enough to intervene. Waiting in the check-out line, a woman who had more items than me allowed me to go ahead of her. Walking back to my car, I was in a designated crosswalk along with a mother who was pushing her mobility challenged son in a wheelchair. Several minutes passed and to my shock, not one car stopped to let us cross. Eventually, an elderly woman stopped, motioning us to cross; she rolled down her window and wished us all a happy Christmas.

Upon arriving at Gabriel Park, a driver offered me a parking space he was waiting for. As I existed the car with Prise and began our walk, out of the corner of my eye I noticed something crawling on my shoulder. Realizing it was a large spider, I screamed. A female jogger stopped and brushed off the spider for me. Continuing my walk, I remembered a quote from the Dalai Lama in which he said, "Genuine compassion is based on a clear acceptance or recognition that others, like oneself, want happiness and have the right to overcome suffering. On that basis one develops concern about the welfare of others, irrespective of one's attitude to oneself. That is compassion."

It is not easy to be compassionate. I am not without my own character flaws and today found myself whispering "bloody wanker" under my breath at least once rather than extending the compassion I hold close to my heart. However, I will do my best to not only extend compassion to my fellow community members, but remain in gratitude. So, thank you to the elderly woman who stopped at the crosswalk and wished me a happy Christmas. Thank you to the store employee and customers who intervened and the woman who allowed me to go ahead of her in the line. Thank you to the gentleman who gave up his parking space and the jogger who stopped to brush off the spider. The kindness exhibited by some far outweighs the negative actions of others. Remembering this, I am able respond more compassionately to those around me and refrain from calling people "wanker."