It’s a normal day at office and I'm on my way to the pantry to fetch a cup of tea for myself. You know the drill right. There are already enough people there, waiting in queue or jumping the line to get sugar, milk, hot water, coffee concentration or the stirrer or the cup. Today as I entered the pantry, I saw 2 other folks who were in there and I went about my routine getting the cup. It was just the 3 of us. Going by their costumes, these gentlemen looked like someone who were in our company for doing some paint and repairing work. Their clothes were crumpled, torn and also had some paint on it.
One gentleman was standing next to the vending machine, figuring out what to do. While I proceeded towards it, the 2nd one instructed the one near the machine “Give way to the lady.” The 1st one immediately moved away and stood aside. I was taken aback. I told them that it was OK and they were not slowing me down in any way. Still he insisted the man to move away and they waited on the side of the room till I was finished. All this while I was thinking that they didn’t need to do this. Finally when I was done I told the gentleman that “Aapne humhe itni izzat di, humko bahut acha laga” (You showed a lot of respect for me, I felt very good). There was a smile on his face and we parted.
How many of us do these in day to day life- show respect or say thankyou. Both of them were easily 15-20 yrs elder to me and belonged to a religion with which we are constantly fighting & blaming. Both of them thought that being an employee here, the first right on the machine was mine and not theirs, even though they were there first. But they waited out patiently.
The need to feel important is inherent in all of us and as we age or grow bigger in our jobs, we want others to show this respect to us. Why? Because we came here first. How often do we do it the other way round? It was a simple act and yet I am blogging about it.
One gentleman was standing next to the vending machine, figuring out what to do. While I proceeded towards it, the 2nd one instructed the one near the machine “Give way to the lady.” The 1st one immediately moved away and stood aside. I was taken aback. I told them that it was OK and they were not slowing me down in any way. Still he insisted the man to move away and they waited on the side of the room till I was finished. All this while I was thinking that they didn’t need to do this. Finally when I was done I told the gentleman that “Aapne humhe itni izzat di, humko bahut acha laga” (You showed a lot of respect for me, I felt very good). There was a smile on his face and we parted.
How many of us do these in day to day life- show respect or say thankyou. Both of them were easily 15-20 yrs elder to me and belonged to a religion with which we are constantly fighting & blaming. Both of them thought that being an employee here, the first right on the machine was mine and not theirs, even though they were there first. But they waited out patiently.
The need to feel important is inherent in all of us and as we age or grow bigger in our jobs, we want others to show this respect to us. Why? Because we came here first. How often do we do it the other way round? It was a simple act and yet I am blogging about it.
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