... For everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
This particular quote by Philo of Alexandria is just one of those awesome set of words that turn your whole perspective upside down. Sometimes situations push us down so hard that in our own reflex to get back out there and continue our fight with life, we tend to push other people down, or out of the way to do so. We say things we don't mean and hurt people unintentionally.
I personally have a gift (is it really one?) for sarcasm. It spikes when I'm on my way to the bottom of the negative emotional spiral. For example, take the average ride in the autor-rickshaw (how I cringe at their presence!). Because of some weird conditioning, I tend magnet for cheating auto-drivers, and though I try my best and avoid being cheated, I end up being cheated... And what's worse? I always know when I am being cheated, but I can do nothing about it. Sometimes I imagine me reverse-conning the rickshaw guy. But I digress...
After the average rickshaw ride, it is not advisable for anyone to talk to me for the next 10 minutes, while I mutter away in frustration and anger. Because any remark/comment/question/statement no matter how innocent or sweet is hammered by some untasteful sarcasm followed by an even more untasteful smirk.
And then that poor soul who got the brunt of my bitter humor reels with hurt and frustration and takes it out on someone else, and i have started a beautiful chain reaction the devil would be proud of!
Why this kolaveri? Why can't we just "Be kind, 'cause everyone we meet is fighting a great battle?" You see, it's no point realizing that the person I'm gonna be sarcastic to is "fighting a great battle," What I should realize is, is that the rickshaw walla is fighting the battle, and I need to be kind to him; hopefully I become less angry then.
Thought I'd just put it out there...
