Someone was quite rude to me recently as I was trying to get into my building.

I had my kids with me and a load of bags and truthfully, I needed a helping hand. Instead of help though, the woman we encountered was extremely unpleasant, her words displaying little sympathy or patience for this overloaded mom with young kids. And her actions showing no courtesy as she allowed the door to slam on us before we could enter the building.

My initial reaction was to feel offended by her words and attitude, and to view her as rude, unpleasant, etc. And I could feel the emotions of frustration, anger and annoyance swelling up in me… the very emotions she was displaying that I found so unpleasant.

And that is how hurt spreads so easily, like an infection from one person to another. I knew in that moment that I had far more power than I used to give myself in the past. I could allow her words and actions to infect me or I could choose a different path.

And so I asked myself one simple question, and it changed my outlook completely...​​​​​​​READ MORE