Not everything is Black and White

The other night I was coming back from Qld along the New England highway. I decide to use a free camp site along the way and pulled in and setup my tent.

That evening as I lay down to sleep I could hear what I thought was a TV set going. As the night went on I finally fell asleep but woke some hours later to the same noise. I decide enough was enough, got dress and went to find the culprit.

I walked over to a converted bus and as I went to knock on the door I saw an old gentleman asleep inside. The noise I could hear was the radio he had left on. I decided not to wake him and returned to my tent

The noise bothered me all night and by morning I was less than happy. I waited until I saw him wake and walked over to talk to him. As I got there, I said good morning and also commented that I noticed he had left his radio going all night.

Before I could say another word he was apologising and saying he hoped it had not kept me awake. He continued by telling me that since his wife had died a few months back he has been very lonely and finds by leaving the radio going when he goes to sleep, it make him feel less lonely and also stops him crying so much while he is getting to sleep as he missed her so much. As you could imagine I felt like a real heel and was ready to retreat.

The old man asked me to join him for a brew. I explained I was due in Sydney for a meeting and was running very late. As I looked into his eyes his entire face dropped and I had not seen sadness in someone like that since I looked in my son eyes when he was 6 or 7 years old.

You see I came home from work one day and saw my son sitting on the couch. I asked him why he wasn’t playing with his cards he had been collect (pokemon or something similar) as he couldn’t be separated from them normally. He told me he had taken them to school although he knew he shouldn’t and the bigger kids and conned him out of them. He was only left with a few crappy ones. 

In seeing this look I grabbed my phone and said I need to make an urgent call. I came back and explained I had cancelled my meeting and if he gets the biscuits I will put the brew on. I realised at that point in time, No sale or meeting was ever going to be worth to me, more than my time spent with this gentleman.

We talked for close on 2 hours. He told me about the war, his life and how he was going to do this trip around Australia with his wife and they had been planning it for 10 years, but she died two week before they were set to go. We exchanged numbers and I bid him fair well as I continued on my journey.

Hopefully you enjoyed my tale and will take 3 things from it?

1.      When someone really annoys you, a child, a wife/ partner or even an employee. You have a choice, Attack or listen. As I have been told many time, you have one mouth and two ears, Listen twice as much as you talk.

2.      We all need goals and plans, but don’t put everything away for that special day. Use that fine china, take a holiday or have that picnic. Unfortunately tomorrow doesn’t always come for everyone.

3.      I keep saying that our children are our future. I have told my son many a times. But also, without our past we would not have a future. We need to remember that elderly people are also our past and have given so much towards our future. Many live alone and are lonely. You probably know one in your building or street. Next time on your way home pop in for 5 mins and say hi. Those 5 mins may not mean much to you but will mean the world to them.

If you liked my story, please share. If you didn't please also let know. I love hearing what people think.