There is a different way of seeing.
A handicap spot, and you seem so able as I cluck my judging mental tongue. But I don’t see the pain and fatigue that chains your ankles to the ground, making even those few extra steps a burden.
When the inconsiderate one enters the exit instead of the entrance, I assume she is obtuse or disrespectful of other people’s space, but what I don’t see is the soul that is counting steps to see how many she can manage with the energy left and still finish all her errands.
You looked strong today, so in control. And what I didn’t see were the tears cupped at the edge of your frazzled and pained brain, ready to spill with the slightest jostle. What I didn’t see was the bathroom stall where tears fell and spirit sagged from a thoughtless word.
There is a different way of seeing.
A p r o n h e a d -- Lilly Green 
We are all, on our best days, His cracked pots, yes…
Anger, jealousy and hurt express themselves from within in such peculiar and ugly ways.
Only when we are misjudged and see from the other side do we get a clearer and more compassionate vision. A lady firend from church who is older had a sore leg and went in the exit to save steps. Another lady actually rammed her cart and hurt her bad leg as a way of protesting such an apparent indiscretion. Oy. That was part of the inspiration here.
Lilly, this is so true. None of knows what the next person is going through, sometimes there is even physical pain that we can’t see. My daughter has a lot of physical pain that others can’t see and she cares for a daughter with cancer and a son on the autism spectrum, but she refuses to get a handicap placard to make her day a bit easier. I admire her strength and stamina.
I have another daughter who battles with social anxiety disorder and sometimes others don’t see what a struggle it is for her to just get out of her car! Thank you, 🙂
We need to give each other a little more space. I often wonder what folks think as we are parked in handicap parking and my hubby is putting his bike on the rack of the car for me to drive him home. He bikes 15 miles to work, and if I’m in, I take him home. But biking on a recumbant is less stress to his body that walking on the hard concrete of the parking lot from far away where employees are supposed to park. His leg injury requires that he be close, yet he looks fit in other ways.
Oh this is so poignant.
Thank you.
Touching post.
Thanks. The lady that inspired the second post is older and actually had the lady that was mad at her for going in the exit ram her with her cart. It gave an already sore leg celulitis. 😦
Oh, no. Prayers for healing.
She is healing. Such a sweet lady and not deserving of such meanness.
Beautiful post. I suspect that the way we judge others comes from what we would do or behave, more of a projecting than any effort to understand.
Not a clear thought, but I hope you know what I mean.
And to be honest, there are those who are just plain mean, and there are those who should not be using handicap stickers. But we often do not know who the abusers are just by looking. And sometimes a person’s rude comment springs from a painful and frustrating day. It is hard, but we probably should give the benefit of the doubt.
Yes, always giving the benefit of the doubt–like everybody, I sure would like it extended to me!
Wonderfully written
Ouch poor woman I would have said something I really can not stand hurtful people 😦
How true that is. I have experienced it so many times. Thank you for sharing!
It’s always a good reminder.
Ouch! That hurts! But I love the out of focus photographs. 😦
Thank you!