Welcome to another hot day in Penrith. There is certainly not going to be a white christmas anywhere near here, and thats just the way I like it!
I’ve just finished our Christmas grocery shopping and I am glad that is over. Its a sad truth that while Christmas is supposed to be a celebration that brings people together, the lead up often put so much pressure on that it tears people apart. I did my shopping at Coles at Centro Nepean today, but I also had to grab a couple of things from Westfield. Both were packed with people and the tension was palpable. I have to admit I succumbed to it myself when my sister and I fell into an argument over a small misunderstanding. While tension is a personal emotion, it spills over into our reactions with other people and often when one person reacts aggressively to someone it starts a hostile chain reaction. I saw it first hand while waiting for a taxi. A lady approached the line where there were already a couple of people waiting. As she walked toward me I noticed how sad she looked. She appeared to have been crying. When a taxi finally came, she reacted angrily when the woman in front of us didn’t get up to accept it fast enough. My sister, who hadn’t seen her earlier, felt this ladys anger and looked at me as if to say “What just happened?”. Moments later my sister went to call another cab and I was left alone with the lady. A cab came in at the same time so I offered to let her go in front while I waited for my sister to return. She looked at me with surprise, and I asked if she was okay. Again she looked like she would cry as she said it wasn’t. We had a short chat and I hope that I made a difference to her day. I do know that as she hopped into the cab, she turned to me smiling and wished me a Merry Christmas. That felt good.
Thinking about it further I realised the parallels. Both my sister and I are going through relationship, lets say, “issues”. Along with the pressure of Christmas, we have had other things on our minds and today that tension spilled over for us with a misunderstanding of something small. What caused the argument wasn’t really at fault, the tension had just built up and spilled over.
We all have the power to create a chain reaction when we are amongst other people. If we take a moment to breathe and recognise what we are really feeling, then we have the opportunity to make that chain a positive one by reacting with love, not anger. It may seem like a big ask, but it is achievable and it makes you feel better too.
Spread the love Penrith!
Big thanks for the “Stranger smiles” I received today it Centro. You helped me realise that there was more going on than my own preoccupations and transformed my chain into a happy one! Smiles are definitely one of the best Christmas presents – we can all afford them and yet their values is priceless!
I wish you a very Happy Christmas!
Kate
