So there I was, sitting on the platform at the Pioneer Square station in the bus tunnel downtown. Minding my own business and people watching, while I waited for the bus to arrive and carry me off to my cube for another seven and a half hours of top-notch customer service. When a man caught my eye.
Looking less than 'put together,' this fella didn't so much strut as much as saunter down the platform. The man carried himself and was dressed in a way that some would classify as “thugged-out.” Given that the man was far older than I, (now 31) I was quick to pass judgment and write him off.
But just when you think you have the world figured-out, it goes and zigs...when you expect it to zag.
As I was sitting there passing judgment on this 'loser,' another bus arrived and an older woman who had been sitting next to me, got-up to hop-on. The woman had a rolling cart for her belongings and was having trouble getting it onto the bus.
To my surprise, the “thug” nearly tripped over himself as he ran over to assist the woman with her cart. All the while, what did I do? Sat there and did nothing.
It was a forehead slapping moment. I shook my head, chuckled and thought “Well, I got that one all kinds of wrong. Whoops.”
Needless to say, I was disappointed in myself.
The saying, “You can't judge a book by it's cover,” repeated over and over in my mind as I rode the bus (of shame) into work.
Sometimes it's the littlest things that can offer the greatest lessons.
I pride myself on embracing diversity and being open to other points of view...yet there I was writing-off a seemingly heck of a nice guy, based on nothing more than his appearance.
Life happens all around you. If you focus too much on yourself or the world as you want to see it, instead of how it is...you are going to miss out on a lot.
No real tidy sum-up to this post. Just one of those random “A Ha!” moments that I felt like sharing. So, just keep the eyes open for chances to grow.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Moving-on.
So I think I’ve finally decided to stop being angry.
I’ve finally decided some things just weren’t meant to be.
I’ve finally decided it’s time to accept the world as it is and just move-on.
I recently caught the deciding game of the opening round playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the team formerly known as the Sonics. (Tip of the cap to ESPN’s Bill Simmons for coining the phrase.)
And I must say, I was impressed with the Oklahoma City Used-to-bes.
I came of sporting age in the mid-to-late ‘80s, smack dab in the middle of the Lakers versus Celtics, Bird versus Magic, “Showtime” hey-day of the NBA. And while I loved the game, I hated, Hated, HATED the Los Angeles Lakers.
So when I heard of the first round match-up pitting the Lakers versus the team formerly known as the Sonics, I was torn. Who should I root against, Magneto (the Lakers) or Dick Dastardly (the team formerly known as)? Which represented the lesser of the two evils?
Then I came across a column by Steve Kelly, an actual writer, in the Seattle Times. The title of the column was “It should be the Sonics playing the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs” and it struck me…
Man, we Seattlites must look bleepin’ PATHETIC. It’s been how many years since the Sonics left? And we’re still whining?
At that moment, I decided it was time to move-on.
Which, in reality, I think many Seattlites have done. As an example, I attribute much of the meteoric early success of Seattle’s new Major League Soccer franchise the Sounders FC, directly to the hole that was left by the departure of the Sonics. It was almost as if Seattle sports fans were/are saying “See, we can support a team. We really do appreciate it.”
But back to the NBA, which I had sworn-off out of bitterness that can only be mustered by one who has been scorned.
Yet, after seeing Kelly’s piece (well-written, as usual) I saw how infantile I and the Seattle fan base appeared, and decided it was time for me to grow-up.
I mean, you are never gonna meet the girl of your dreams if you spend all of your time stalking the Ex who dumped you.
So here’s my personal ad to the NBA:
Dear NBA,
I am a white male, age 30 (for a couple more weeks). I like food, music and spending excess income on sporting events. I’ve been out of the scene for a couple of years but am ready to start looking for a professional basketball team again. I have seen many who are taken and would like one to call my own. If interested please email me at: still.looking@needateam.com.
So I say, “Congrats,” to the team formerly known as the Sonics. It looks like the foundation laid here in Seattle, is starting to bear fruit. The system, management & team atmosphere they’ve established has been described as one of the best in the league. Props to Kevin Durant, he’s growing into the star everyone thought he could be on draft day. I cannot be angry with the players, as they had nothing to do with the business side of things. And to see KD crumpling to the floor with his head hanging low after the loss to the Lakers, I earned nothing but respect. He doesn’t have to, but he really seemed to care.
And I can’t hate on that.
I just hope that one day KD will return to Seattle to compete against a next generation incarnation of the Seattle Supersonics.
Until then, I’ll appreciate a game I love without sullying the experience with petty bitterness. Now if everyone else in the 206 could just get on-board with me.
I’ve finally decided some things just weren’t meant to be.
I’ve finally decided it’s time to accept the world as it is and just move-on.
I recently caught the deciding game of the opening round playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the team formerly known as the Sonics. (Tip of the cap to ESPN’s Bill Simmons for coining the phrase.)
And I must say, I was impressed with the Oklahoma City Used-to-bes.
I came of sporting age in the mid-to-late ‘80s, smack dab in the middle of the Lakers versus Celtics, Bird versus Magic, “Showtime” hey-day of the NBA. And while I loved the game, I hated, Hated, HATED the Los Angeles Lakers.
So when I heard of the first round match-up pitting the Lakers versus the team formerly known as the Sonics, I was torn. Who should I root against, Magneto (the Lakers) or Dick Dastardly (the team formerly known as)? Which represented the lesser of the two evils?
Then I came across a column by Steve Kelly, an actual writer, in the Seattle Times. The title of the column was “It should be the Sonics playing the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs” and it struck me…
Man, we Seattlites must look bleepin’ PATHETIC. It’s been how many years since the Sonics left? And we’re still whining?
At that moment, I decided it was time to move-on.
Which, in reality, I think many Seattlites have done. As an example, I attribute much of the meteoric early success of Seattle’s new Major League Soccer franchise the Sounders FC, directly to the hole that was left by the departure of the Sonics. It was almost as if Seattle sports fans were/are saying “See, we can support a team. We really do appreciate it.”
But back to the NBA, which I had sworn-off out of bitterness that can only be mustered by one who has been scorned.
Yet, after seeing Kelly’s piece (well-written, as usual) I saw how infantile I and the Seattle fan base appeared, and decided it was time for me to grow-up.
I mean, you are never gonna meet the girl of your dreams if you spend all of your time stalking the Ex who dumped you.
So here’s my personal ad to the NBA:
Dear NBA,
I am a white male, age 30 (for a couple more weeks). I like food, music and spending excess income on sporting events. I’ve been out of the scene for a couple of years but am ready to start looking for a professional basketball team again. I have seen many who are taken and would like one to call my own. If interested please email me at: still.looking@needateam.com.
So I say, “Congrats,” to the team formerly known as the Sonics. It looks like the foundation laid here in Seattle, is starting to bear fruit. The system, management & team atmosphere they’ve established has been described as one of the best in the league. Props to Kevin Durant, he’s growing into the star everyone thought he could be on draft day. I cannot be angry with the players, as they had nothing to do with the business side of things. And to see KD crumpling to the floor with his head hanging low after the loss to the Lakers, I earned nothing but respect. He doesn’t have to, but he really seemed to care.
And I can’t hate on that.
I just hope that one day KD will return to Seattle to compete against a next generation incarnation of the Seattle Supersonics.
Until then, I’ll appreciate a game I love without sullying the experience with petty bitterness. Now if everyone else in the 206 could just get on-board with me.
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