Over the last couple of months I have tried to sit back and observe the life happening around me. This observation, I find, serves to help me try to understand the people I work with and live around more clearly. Now, I'm not saying I'm suddenly a whiz at understanding or that I am at all more amiable. Rather, I think my observation has led me to an understanding of myself more than those that surround me.
Firstly, I find that I am rather intolerant any more. I suppose that can't be entirely good, as tolerance is the key to getting along with people of all stripes. Perhaps it is less an intolerance and more an aversion to people's bullshit. There seems to be an awful lot of bullshit swirling these days. Am I the only one who has noticed it?
Secondly, understanding is a relavant term. I find that I really understand only as much as I am willing to wrap my brain around...only as much as I'm willing to do the work for. Awful, right?
Statistics is not something I really want to wrap my brain around...though I do want to at least pass the class. But, back to understanding, I don't understand statistics. That is where my trouble with the subject stems from. Now, not to toot my own intellectual horn, but I'm not a stupid person. I am reasonably well read and can comprehend the most complex of concepts...except for statistics. When the genes were being divvied up in the ol' chromosome pool between my Mom and Dad, I got none of the math genes. Generally, this isn't a problem. Specifically, for the last four weeks, and next week, it is. I have to laugh at myself...or cry, but that's just not pretty for anyone. There, I said it.
What I do not understand is when people willingly mislead others in a blatant attempt to make themselves look like they are better than other people; or they concoct a story such that they do not come off like the bleep they are. When, exactly, did taking responsibility for oneself become such a scarcity? Sure, there are two (or more) sides to every story...but when did personal image supplant integrity? Mental illness not withstanding, people shouldn't get to just make things up about events in their life that effect other people as well. A lot of really great people get hurt needlessly this way, in my opinion. I've seen it happen professionally and personally.
My last observation for the day is more of a lesson learned - be careful to whom you gossip. I got in a bit of trouble last week for repeating something I had heard about two distant coworkers. I couched my relating of the tidbit by saying that I had absolutely no first-hand knowledge of anything, but I had heard that something had occurred. Two of the individuals that were participating in the conversation proceeded to leave and run to the two rumor subjects' boss. I was called to account for what I had seen and said. I had no idea my idle prattle would grow such legs and result in my hand being slapped. Now, upon reflection, I really just should have kept my big fat mouth shut. I find out a lot of nutty things about people in my job and I don't repeat those...why I chose to divulge a rumor on this occasion, I can't recall. But, I have learned my lesson. Not only will I keep my trap shut, but I will make a concerted effort to better read the room for tattle-tales. :-)
Happy Thursday friends.
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