Simply Simple

Are there any simple ways to be kind?

It was a very hot day in July. Everyone was exasperated with the heat as the platform was crowded. I was waiting to get on the train to Mainz. The display board flashed a news: Stop at Mainz cancelled, train to stop at Frankfurt directly. Technical problems also caused cancellation of Wagon 24, 25.

Oh my, this put me under a lot of anxiety as my mind grappled to find a way out. Then I looked around, took a deep breath and started thinking of alternatives. I checked my Train App and to my surprise there was an immediate connecting train. What a relief! Shortly the train arrived. Excess passengers from the 2 cancelled wagons created an overloaded train. I was standing with the other people in corridor as there was no place to sit. The lady train controller (TC) was discussing with a bunch of 4 young boys and I waited for her to get my ticket extended till Frankfurt. Standing next to me was an old man, he seemed quite restless and kept looking towards the TC.

After their discussion the boys got up and came towards the old man. “You can sit there, Sir” one of them told the old man. Delightedly he looked at the 3 old ladies sitting scattered in the same wagon.  All 3 of them got up and sat at the place where these boys were sitting earlier. The boys along with the TC re-arranged the luggage of the old people. After everyone settled down the old man went to the boys and said “See, I told you that I reserved the seats, but you young people do not listen to elders” and then he went back to his lady companions.

The boys and the TC came to the place where I was standing in the corridor. The TC gave the boys a signed slip to have free food in the dining car and told them that they could sit there. She also told them that she would let them know as soon as a seat becomes available. The boys thanked the TC, but continued standing in the same corridor.

I was looking at them waiting patiently for my turn to talk to TC. “Yes Madam?” the TC turned towards me and asked. I requested her to extend my ticket till Frankfurt and to book me on a connection train to Mainz. She extended my ticket and booked me on the alternative connection. I finally relaxed!

I noticed that the old man was still uncomfortable. Finally he got up and came towards the boys and asked them, “It was my reservation, wasn’t it? What did the TC tell you?” One of the boys replied, “Sir, we too had a reservation, but there was confusion as some of the wagons were cancelled.” Then another boy continued “The TC told, the question is not whether you have a reservation OR who is responsible for the cancellation of the two wagons? The question at the moment is: Given the situation who should stand the young or the old? ” The old man smiled, patted the back of honest young man and went back to his seat. Finally he was at peace!

Can we be understanding like the boys and show respect to our elder’s even if it involves a bit of sacrifice? Can we solve a situation without being irritated or angry by using our wisdom like the TC? These people and their values changed a chaotic situation into a peaceful one. Simply simple ways to be kind.

“If you have to choose between being right and being kind, choose kind!” these words from a movie linger on …