I was at the airport last week. It was early morning and the conveyor belt in the luggage area was not functioning. As a result, the queues were piling up and tensions arose.
I ended up responding in a rather short manner to someone who I thought was rather pedantic.
I felt uncomfortable because of my response and felt disappointed with my reaction!
As I reflected I remembered something that had come across years ago.
A man and his friend were in town. The man wanted to buy a newspaper. They went to a vendor to do so.
The vendor was curt and rather rude. The friend asked if this happened before with this vendor.
Yes said the man, many times!
Why do you keep going to him asked the friend.
It is convenient said the man, Why should I let his rudeness determine where I buy my newspaper from?
He was a free man!