I’m Inventing a Time Machine
Have you ever had one of those moments after you’ve said or done something when you realize that you really wish you hadn’t done or said that thing?
Of course you have. We all have.
I have decided that after I get the recipe and patent for mind soap all squared away, I’m going to invent a time machine. Alternatively, I might invent the SPAR machine (Stupidity Prevention And Removal machine), but I’m leaning towards a time machine as being the easier option.
(You see, a time machine not only enables us to take back our stupid moments but to learn from them as well.)
Why?
I’m a friendly person by nature and, being such a person, I tend to forget that not everyone is friendly as me. In fact, I’ve heard there are nasty people out there who dream of hitting friendly, cheerful people on their heads with shovels. So when I send out a friendly message to someone and get a not-so-friendly message in return, I tend to feel not only upset but embarrassed as well.
But such is the nature of relationships. You have to be observant. As much as it would make everyone else in the world easier to deal with if they were clones of you, it would make the world boring as well. (Unless you have some very kinky fantasies.)
Another thing I have to remember when things like this happen is that you have to put yourself in other people’s shoes. Look at things from their viewpoint. That won’t save you from all the in-the-moment stumbles, but if you take three seconds to think before you send an email, make that phone call, respond to what that person said, you could save yourself (and your relationships) a lot of embarrassment and bad feelings.
Better to be observant and have empathy for people that to sit around waiting for my time machine, eh?
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