How do you practice these principles in all your affairs?

For me, OA and HP have helped me be more tolerant and patient with people. Sometimes I encounter someone who has a lot of anger. But when I look behind the anger, I see lots of pain. I like to think of the garbage truck scenario:

Some people are like garbage trucks. They are full of pain, resentment and anger. This builds up and they need to dump it; sometimes on me. I have to realize that it’s not me they’re angry with. I just happen to be at the dumping place at the time. Many times we just don’t know what people are going through. I just accept it and pray that they get the peace they need.

This reminds me of one of my favorite books, A Man Called Ove. The main character, Ove, is as curmudgeon. He gets angry at his neighbors. He argues with the workers at the store. He even gets angry at a stray cat that hangs around him. Looking further into his character we realize that he is still grieving over his wife and love of his life.

You never know what someone is going through.

Anne B