A few weeks ago I wrote a post called, “Life’s Little Lessons & Why I Hate Chicken Balls“. After I wrote the post, I started thinking about other life lessons I’ve experienced. And then something dawned on me. The lessons always repeat until we ‘get it’. I recall something I learned many years ago that sums this up quite nicely:
The faces are different; the situations are the same.
Doesn’t that make perfect sense? To me, it means that, despite the ‘different characters’ that come along who ‘teach’ us these lessons, the lessons themselves are the same. They have the same theme until we get it. Have you ever noticed yourself saying, “That situation always happens to me.” Or, “I meet the biggest jerks of the universe all the time!” (okay, perhaps you don’t say that, but for the purposes of illustration, you see what I mean)!
I have noticed that when I seem to be ‘coincidentally’ having a situation happen over and over again, I need to make a concerted effort to figure out why it is happening. Case in point: for about 3 weeks I had the strangest thing continue to occur. Anytime I was at a store, no matter what store, no matter what I was buying, someone would reach their arm directly in front of me to grab something off the shelf; not one time did anyone say, “Excuse me”. Now, in my home and native land that would be grounds for a rather grandiose (yet polite) stare at the rude interloper.
This absolutely infuriated me time and time again. Every single time it happened I would say the same thing to the, “shelf-disturber”: “Um, did you need me to move?” A very passive-aggressive Canuck thing to do. I kid you not, each time the answer was something along the lines of, “No, you’re fine.” I’m fine? Well, I might be fine, but clearly you are not!
I remember thinking, okay, maybe this isn’t something that is considered insolent in Chicago. I do realize that Canadians are known the world over for being extremely polite and it’s for good reason: we are! However, I had to think about the intention of my inadvertent ‘teachers’. Did they think hey, I’m going to be rude here but I couldn’t care less what this blonde lady thinks. I doubt it. Did they set out to grab the shampoo staring in front of me with such fervor that I would become unwillingly acquainted with their overpowering perfume? Not likely.
After this bit of self-synopsis, I had to admit that in the big scheme of things, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Once I reached this conclusion, the, “space-invaders” seemed to vanish. Isn’t it interesting that it has literally not happened to me once since I chose to understand that I mustn’t make, “much ado about nothing”. Okay universe, I got that lesson, but I have a question: Do you think you could provide me with a lesson about winning the lottery and how I need to be happy with ‘only’ one vacation home, and not several? *biggest grin*
What about you? Have you ever noticed life lessons disguised as annoying patterns of repetitive occurrences? If not, I would like to provide you with a friendly challenge to become aware of them. See if you can ‘get’ the lesson, and don’t be surprised if they disappear altogether! I’d love to hear your thoughts about this!
This is so true.. Once we have learnt from a situation etc. It no longer needs to keep being repeated.. Sending thoughts your way Cher.. xx
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Hi Sue! Great to hear from you! Oh yes, I quite agree. It is fascinating, isn’t it? Right back at you, Sue! Thank you! Cher xo
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Yes, such is this journey of discovery.. xxx ❤
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It most certainly is, Sue! ❤ x0
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No it hasn’t worked! Drivers who have no idea how to merge are still doing it!
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I wonder if they are not learning their life lessons, Lucy! It appears they aren’t! *grin* Cher xo
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Yes indeed and I need to learn to chill about it 😊
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I know it is most definitely easier said than done! Cher xo
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Really a great and thoughtful post, Cher 🙂
When I look back at my life, I do see the same, some lessons were needed to be learned.
Sometimes I ask myself, what is to be learned by this situations, when they are repeating and when I get it, not always fast, they stop being repeated.
I didn’t think about this quote with rudeness before, but yes, this is so true too.
In repeating dreams I do ask myself, what is to be learned by this in same way.
Enjoy your weekend 🙂
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Thank you so much for your excellent comments, Irene! Yes, when I came across that quote about rudeness I hadn’t thought about it that way before either. Makes sense though, doesn’t it? It usually takes me a while (or sometimes a LONG time) to ‘get’ the lesson! Thank you, Irene! Cher xo
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I agree, it makes sense Cher. Sometimes it takes me long time to get the lesson too 🙂
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🙂 xo
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Yes, lessons repeat until you get them.
And we used to be polite too. When I lived in Chicago in the seventies, people would have said excuse me before reaching around. Even here in the south where manners used to be exquisite, few bother with it any more. I’m not sure when so many people quit bothering with consideration for anyone around them though I suspect it relates to the rise of technology and people paying more attention to devices than to people… But I’m intrigued to hear it perhaps hasn’t affected Canada.
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I agree completely with you, you dear! I do feel technology has a lot to do with the decrease in showing a little respect and manners for others. Well, I have always considered Canadians very friendly and polite. There are a few places I’ve encountered the opposite in Canada, but it’s not the norm. Let’s hear it for politeness (please!) Thank you for your excellent comments, my dear! Cher xo
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When holding a door open for someone who is coming through behind me, and they don’t say thanks or give me a nod, I don’t get annoyed like I used to.
A mate said to me once “I just don’t expect it down here [South of England], so it doesn’t bother me.” A light came on inside me when he said that.
Although there are a lot of polite people in Southern England, there are a quite a lot who show no courtesy when a door is held open for them. My response was based on behaviour that was common where I come from, not my current environment.
I have applied the “don’t expect it” philosophy to a lot of other situations and people. If I don’t expect something, I am not disappointed when it does not happen.
I feel a blog post coming on.
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This is so true. Great post.
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