Everyone Is Fighting A Battle You Know Nothing About | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Everyone Is Fighting A Battle You Know Nothing About

So use that as a reason to be nice to people

353
Everyone Is Fighting A Battle You Know Nothing About
Nabeel Syed

Earlier this week, I had to go to the post office to pick up a package. Now, I never go to the post office; it's all the way on the other side of town, and most delivery services will just leave it at your door if you're not home. But no, not this one. So I went to the post office for the first time in probably a year.

Once I'm done at the post office, I'm attempting to turn left to go back home. And I'm quickly finding out that turning left onto Hogan Ln. is not an easy task. So I'm looking both ways, like a bird looking left and right and then left again. At this point, there's a line of cars behind me, also waiting to turn out.

So I finally see a gap, a good gap to pull out into. And as soon as I start to go into the road, this old lady swoops in and turns left into the post office next to me. I have to slam on my brakes just to keep from hitting her. As she drives past me, she starts yelling at me through her car window. While I can't read lips very well, I am very sure she called me some unfriendly names. Well now, I don't even have time to react to her rudeness because I'm halfway in the road at this point. Thankfully, an older gentleman in a pickup truck has mercy on me and lets me pull out in front of him.

As I drove back to my house, I was furious. I started thinking of all the things I wanted to say to that old lady, and just how I would say them. And the more I thought about it, I knew exactly what I wanted to say to her.

I wanted to ask her what exactly made her decide that her pulling into the post office was more important than everyone else's agendas. I wanted to ask her what made her so miserable that she gained happiness from yelling at me from her car window.

I wanted to know if she knew that literally everyone she came into contact that day is fighting a battle she knows nothing about. Everyone from the guy bagging your groceries to the lady pumping gas next to you has something going on that you'd never guess. Every single person has a story about their lives that will bring you to your knees.

And I wanted to tell her that cursing out a college girl for nearly hitting your car when she swooped in from my blind spot, was going to do nothing but make her feel entitled for about 4.5 seconds. It wasn't going to teach me a lesson, and it wasn't going to do any good to each of our lives whatsoever.

After I was done ranting to myself in my car, I didn't want to find that old lady anymore and give her a piece of my mind. Instead, I almost felt obligated to do something inherently nice for someone else, just so I could even out the negativity that the old lady had tried to put in my life.

So I want this to serve as a challenge, both to myself and those reading. Some people in this world are just so miserable, that they forget that every other person they meet is also struggling in ways you could not imagine. But perhaps we could make their days a little bit brighter by showing them kindness. And when the world does not show us kindness, we find ways to channel that energy for good instead.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

275
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

15150
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

3071
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments