“Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break.” – Jane Wells
I didn’t have a great day, kind of boring and uneventful. I went to work. I ran some errands. I came home and made dinner. I went for a walk.
The stress of an argument I had with someone the day before was still on my mind. Still unresolved, the subject of our disagreement was harebrained. What really bothered me was the disrespectful way I had been spoken to. It just rubbed me the wrong way. I felt that disagreements with this person should have come without an insolent and discourteous attitude.
As I walked I realized I was stiff as a board. My shoulders were so tight they almost reached my ear lopes. I was clenching my teeth like an animal ready to jump on prey. My eye was squinting caused by the headache that was petering. A jogger passed me but not without glancing my way. The look on his face made me realize what I must look like. I think he broke out into a run.
I walk a little faster trying to relax a little to relieve the tension in my neck. Correcting my posture I reminded myself to not sweat the small stuff. Should I just let it go? Maybe I need to ride it out for a while to show how important my position is to me. What am I talking about, I’m right and they are wrong…that’s my position.
It’s funny how the answer to my questions came in the form of a quote. When I arrived home from my walk and sat at my desk. My sister gave me a daily calendar with quotes for a gift a few months back. I opened it to the page that provided me this quote by Jane Wells.
“Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break.”
I felt my body relax. I took a deep breath in and out. I told myself that I am better than this. I’d rather get along than be right. I’m letting this one go.
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7 Responses to Bending A Little…
One of my favorite “reminders,” is this one (and I tell myself often): Do I want to be right or do I want to be loved?
Thanks for sharing this, Kim. Letting go can be tough, but it’s the healthy thing to do.
I do agree with this philosophy and practice it probably 99 percent of the time. I always say that you have to pick your battles because if you fight them all, you might win the majority but in the end you will be too emotionally exhausted to enjoy it .
I think that when I was in my twenties it was much more important to me that when I knew I was absolutely right, that it was important that others knew it too. Now… I truly could care less. It only matters that I know. I let quite a few battles go, especially in the work place. I think it is essential for one’s mental health to do so.
This is definitely a timely reminder. I think sometimes it’s something that comes with age, and the confidence that (hopefully) accompanies it. Sometimes it’s enough to feel that you are right; you can then let it go without having to feel that you’ve convinced the other person, as well.
Ugh, Kimberly. I feel for you. Arguments- especially silly ones, eat at me for days. Days. I need to learn to let it go. I hate confrontation and I loathe stupidity, which most arguments are inevitably stupid in one way or another…..
Good for you and your sense of peace ….. I may email you to talk me down of the “I want to strangle them!” ledge in the future…….
A timely reminder.
I had one of these silly disagreements this morning with someone.
Now I have the real opportunity to take your words into my heart and put them in action. Thank you!
Oh, and the picture accompanying this story is great too!
Kim, your story is so fitting for most of us. I remember once being challenged, “Would you rather be happy or be right?”
If only I could bite my tongue more often and use this practice. I, too, must have caused others to give me a wide berth by my appearance when focused on bitter things. Years ago, I happened to glance into a storefront, and the glass reflected my most unpleasant demeanor. I never want people to see that look again, and I made up my mind to put on happy face
, my public persona.
Well done!