Episode Details

How do you stop a rude stranger from ruining the rest of your day?

Marcus Aurelius had this two thousand years ago. Tell yourself in the morning that you will meet the meddling and the ungrateful. I was in a queue at the chemist with my sister and somebody went straight in front of me. There is a voice that wants them to know they wronged me. But every ship makes a wake and no ship controls its own wake. You do not have to add fuel. There is real strength in staying calm while everybody else loses it.

One thing to try: When somebody is rude, ask one question. Are they hot, cold, skint, frightened? Then let the wake pass.

In this episode

• (4:12) Marcus Aurelius, two thousand years ago
• (5:31) The queue at the chemist with my sister
• (6:36) The part of me that wants them to know
• (7:32) Maybe they were on an important call
• (10:28) Everybody is distracted and doing their best
• (11:42) You cannot help making a wake
• (13:52) How much compassion have you really got
• (20:27) The best answer to anger is silence

With gratitude to

Jennifer, Laura and Audra

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Thank you for listening.

Steven

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