When facing danger we are
programmed to flight or fight. How about adding the third reaction:
kindness.
A few days ago I witnessed
a dispute between a taxi driver and a Ferrari driver. The situation
was simple: the taxi had been waiting for us next to the Ferrari
showroom blocking the other car. The Ferrari driver was becoming very
impatient and started to shout at the taxi driver. All of sudden both
drivers got out of the car and it seemed that the fight was
inevitable but then both of them returned to their cars. I was
worried to get into the car with the supposed violent taxi driver
until I found out how wrong I was. The driver was very kind and calm
and explained that the Ferrari guy had been calling him names and
wanted to provoke a fight. The taxi driver didn't let him. He told us
inside the car that everybody assumes that the taxi drivers are the
lower class with no manners while it was the rich guy with Ferrari
who was rude and violent. The taxi driver told us that if the Ferrari
man had asked him kindly to drive away he would have done it right
away but starting by calling him names was not a good strategy.
I was astonished by the
simple wisdom. I also was ashamed of my own prejudice, because I
thought it was the taxi driver who lost his calm.
 |
| What card are you going to play? |
Although the animal brain
in us makes us choose only from two options: flight of fight, we have
the third one available at any time: being kind. It is more difficult
because it does not come so automatically but ultimately it is much
more rewarding. Kindness is the simple act of love and puts an end to
the desire of revenge. I shall try it more often :)
