The Lesson

I'm a bit of an arrogant guy at times. I think and judge a lot but I keep my opinion to myself. Today something happened that made me think that we ain't always right or it's not right at all to think that what you're thinking is absolutely correct. At times we run into arguments and we don't even realize that instead of proving who's right we begin to prove who's ego is bigger. We totally neglect that other person's opinion.

Let's take an example of what happened today. There is a smoking zone in my building and it's on the outskirts of the building so it's kinda open to natural air from all sides. It's pretty much cool though and there's room for many people. But since it's cold so many people don't actually enter the smoking zone but they just stand at its entrance and smoke. Just to avoid the cold breeze or sometimes heavily chilled strokes of cold air. The point is I'm one of those people in fact I was till today. There are guards who politely tell people to smoke inside the zone. But thanks to our huge ego of class and band we don't listen to them. Today I went to the zone and started smoking outside the zone. The guard came to me and asked me to smoke in the zone since I was in a hurry so I went inside

A couple of minutes later I saw a few suits "Higher level officials" smoking outside, the guard came again and surprisingly didn't say anything to them and returned. After finishing my cigarette I went straight to that guard and asked "Why this discrimination? You told me to go and didn't say anything to them? "
The guard politely apologized and said "Sir I feel ashamed that I'm illiterate but still I've to tell you literate people to follow the instructions mentioned in that Sign Board. If you are offended I won't say a word to you smoke anywhere you want"

I was like this guy showed me that irrespective of my position in my band I'm so wrong so bloody wrong in following something which is meant to be followed by every literate and socially responsible person. I was wrong on so many levels that I couldn't face this man. I came to argue why he allowed others and refused to allow me, but the basic point in my whole argument would have been based on my irresponsibility. I stood there for like 5 seconds totally speechless. Somehow I managed to say "I'm sorry" and walked away. So before judging others judge yourself. If you believe you're right maybe you're on some levels but not all and that other guy might be correct on one of the remaining levels.

Vivek Choudhary