It was a busy morning when I found myself rushing to the office, my mind racing with deadlines and tasks. The city streets were alive with the sound of traffic, as people hurried to their destinations, lost in their own thoughts. Amidst the chaos, I approached a rumble strip on the road, my attention divided between the buzzing of my phone and the hum of the cars around me.
Suddenly, a car stopped in front of me, the screech of its brakes pulling me back to reality. At first, I was confused. Why had the car stopped? Was there an accident? But then I noticed the driver motioning for me to cross the road.
As I crossed the road, the driver honked their horn, demanding that I thank them for letting me pass.
“Excuse me?” I said, turning around to face the driver.
“I stopped to let you cross the road, and you didn’t even thank me!” the driver exclaimed.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I replied, taken aback. “I didn’t realize you were doing me a favor. But thank you for stopping your car. I appreciate it.”
The driver’s expression softened, and they nodded in response. Perhaps they had just wanted to be acknowledged for their act of kindness, and my words had given them that validation.
In the end, the driver’s demand for thanks may have come across as entitled and rude, but it served as a powerful reminder of the value of gratitude. We should always strive to be grateful for the kindness of others, and to express our gratitude in ways that honor the art of giving and receiving.
Thoughts, Learnings and Realizations 