My dear mother-in-law told me, “Live long enough and you will see everything.”She was right! So many times something will happen that I have never experienced before—sometimes
good—sometimes not so good.

Last week, I was enjoying having dinner with a dear friend in one of the restaurants where we live, when two women entered and came to our table.  The nice woman introduced us to her companion, whereupon her companion looked at me and angrily said,”I’ve met you before in the elevator, and you were rude to me!” Then I remembered her.

Six months before, when I entered the elevator, someone introduced me to this same woman. When she heard my name, she said, “I know your religion by your name.”  As the elevator doors opened for my exit, I replied, “There are other people with my name who practice other religions.”

So, for six months, this angry woman carried a grudge around like a load of bricks, but she was too stubborn to put it down.  I looked at her sullen face, and I said, “I’m sorry if I was rude” and she replied, “I don’t forgive you,” and she left in a huff.  At that, I remembered what Buddha said, all those many years ago, “ The grudge you hold on to is like a hot coal that you intend to throw at someone, only you are the one who gets burned.”

When my shocked dinner companion looked at me, I said, “Well, I hope she’s considering never to speak to me again. That will teach me!”

Grudges are a waste of time, and life is just too short to waste.  So, I will laugh a lot when I can. Apologize even when I shouldn’t , and let go of what I can’t change. But, not before I waste material for a good story.

ADDENDUM:  That night, I had a dream that I was in a wet suit, and I was in a deep dive in the ocean, when I saw a whale entangled in a fisherman’s net.  All night long, I cut that net off of that whale until she was finally free and swam off into the night…just before I woke up.

Esther Blumenfeld