Ripple effect
Ripple effect
I'm sure we are all aware that what someone says, what someone does, or the response of the person we are interacting with can create a sort of ripple effect, which in turn affects our responses. We may feel joyful, we may feel upset, we may feel hurt, we may feel angry, and a whole string of possible responses. Or we may be the someone who caused this ripple effect in another person.
Mum was upset that she got "snubbed" by a few hawkers when I brought her to do marketing this morning. All she did was flip a few squids to check on their freshness ... ask a few preliminary questions before deciding her purchase, etc. She felt really "wronged", and for the entire trip, she was real moody. Sigh, someone else's irritation spoils another person's day. Well, all I can say to her to "comfort" her is that perhaps the heat of the weather this morning has made people more quick-tempered than usual =)
At the same time, I'm also reminded by the accident that took place around Scotts Road - the one between the financial adviser and the cabby. Well, all I can gather is from what the newspaper reported, but it seems to me that the whole incident is perhaps due to an unresolved dispute, and in the heat of the moment, one party just decide that it's pointless to continue and drove off, hitting the man with the vehicle and causing him to be fighting for his life even up to this moment. This is a more serious case that leaves great repercussions, not just to an individual, but to his entire circle of friends and loved ones. What has actually happened? No one except the parties involved will have the full story, but what someone does caused an effect to another person, or persons.
No wonder the Bible reminds us in Prov 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." And if I may add, I believe our gentle actions and responses included too.
I'm sure we are all aware that what someone says, what someone does, or the response of the person we are interacting with can create a sort of ripple effect, which in turn affects our responses. We may feel joyful, we may feel upset, we may feel hurt, we may feel angry, and a whole string of possible responses. Or we may be the someone who caused this ripple effect in another person.
Mum was upset that she got "snubbed" by a few hawkers when I brought her to do marketing this morning. All she did was flip a few squids to check on their freshness ... ask a few preliminary questions before deciding her purchase, etc. She felt really "wronged", and for the entire trip, she was real moody. Sigh, someone else's irritation spoils another person's day. Well, all I can say to her to "comfort" her is that perhaps the heat of the weather this morning has made people more quick-tempered than usual =)
At the same time, I'm also reminded by the accident that took place around Scotts Road - the one between the financial adviser and the cabby. Well, all I can gather is from what the newspaper reported, but it seems to me that the whole incident is perhaps due to an unresolved dispute, and in the heat of the moment, one party just decide that it's pointless to continue and drove off, hitting the man with the vehicle and causing him to be fighting for his life even up to this moment. This is a more serious case that leaves great repercussions, not just to an individual, but to his entire circle of friends and loved ones. What has actually happened? No one except the parties involved will have the full story, but what someone does caused an effect to another person, or persons.
No wonder the Bible reminds us in Prov 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." And if I may add, I believe our gentle actions and responses included too.
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