A clean slate
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
By Richard Anderson
Misfortune often comes from out of nowhere. Car wrecks, layoffs, fires,
floods, tornadoes, sickness, death: Disasters comes without warning,
and unsuspecting victims cope or suffer.
Stress can lead to depression; unexpected financial burdens can lead to
bankruptcy; not wanting to face reality can trigger escalating
consequences.
It has been shown that the single biggest factor in coping successfully
with setbacks and tragedies is a network of family and friends, a
caring community willing and able to extend a hand.
That, it has been observed, is one of the things that makes Jackson
Hole a remarkable place. Time and again, the people of this valley have
banded together to help those in need.
Not just neighbors and friends and family, but even strangers have
given their money, time and other resources when a resident takes ill,
loses his house to a fire, or suffers from some other misfortune.
Unfortunately, unhelpful hands reach out, too, people bent on making
things worse, either with intentionally destructive acts or
intentionally hurtful words.
We can excuse simple disagreements about what is right and even the
occasional eruptions of frustration to which we’re all prone.
And a sincere apology can work wonders. We all learned this from our
mothers and fathers and kindergarten teachers, and yet, for some
reason, there are still those who think it’s OK to be mean, to wish
others ill, to make light of other people’s misfortune.
When we encounter someone like that, it’s tempting to react with
similar bile, but we know that’s not the effective or appropriate
response.
We know the right way to deal with someone like that is to respond with
compassion, to ask what misfortune befell them that they cannot help
but make as many others as miserable as they are.
In my 40-plus years, I’ve made a lot of gaffs, said a lot of things I
regret, lashed out at friends and family, said less than kind things,
been motivated by spite or envy, made light of other people’s mistakes
and misfortunes.
I’m not proud to admit it. I would apologize to each and every one of
those persons whom I might have hurt, but it probably would take
another 40-plus years.
Instead, I’ll just forgive all the unkind words and actions to which
I’ve been subjected, all the times someone tried to make me feel
bad.This is entirely in my interest. Perhaps it’s in yours, too.
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A clean slate | Planet JH News Article: Editorial
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