Once when flying somewhere on a business trip I came to my window seat and there was a little old lady in it. I politely told her she was in my seat; she seemed very distracted (or flaky I remember thinking) and moved to the middle seat. Then I saw a yellow plastic bag sitting where I put my feet. I informed her that I would gladly move her package to the overhead compartment. She looked up and said no, she wanted to hold it as it held the flag from her husband’s coffin; she just came from his funeral.
My entire perspective changed from one of aggravation to one of compassion and concern, all because she made me look at her in a way I hadn’t noticed before; I saw the part that was shining.
Malcolm Gladwell reminded us in The Tipping Point that it only takes a small group of dedicated, passionate people to change a culture and make a difference. If we all decided to see people through a lens of possibility, being open to the parts that shone, it could get rid of a lot of the frustrations we encounter and in the process, inspire others to change their vision as well.
What do you think?
