One day I went to a Timothy’s coffee shop, put my coat and the heavy bag on a chair, and head on to the counter to buy a tea. I saw people doing the same thing in the cold season. Plus, two clients supposed to join me, so I chose a table with three chairs.
While waiting in line to be served, a man came in and put his bag on another chair of the table I’ve chosen. Then he started to search in his bag to take out his packed dinner.
I went back to the table. Showing him my bag and coat on the other chair, I said: “I’m just waiting in line and I’m coming back; plus two other people will join me.”
Furious, he looked at me and said almost shouting: “I didn’t see a <<Reserved>> sign, and there was nobody sitting at this table! So I’m free to choose it!”
There was no “ Reserved sign” on any table. I tried to explain the situation, but he didn’t want to listen. He showed me his back and start going to the counter. The server and a client tried to take my part, but he wasn’t listening.
“You’re doing the same thing”, I said in a louder voice so he can listen. “You didn’t put a <<Reserved>> sign on the table, and you left your bag at an empty table!”
He looked at me with anger: “Don’t do this to me anymore! I will remember you!”. Then he took his bag and left. I was ready to move at another table if he didn’t leave.
——————
How many times do we judge others, forgetting that sometimes we’re doing the same thing? Judging others doesn’t make us better than them. There are better ways to handle difficult situations.
Gabriela
www.quantumlifecoach.ca