This and that...

Perceptions...whose?

As I sat at the cafeteria grounds at the Black den today, I listened to people talking and I realized something. I tuned out of conversations and sounds that surrounded me to think outside myself. To see outside myself.

And I saw...I saw people who see what they want to see. People who hear what they want to hear. They seem to reject the notion of being in another person's shoe. They are all in a world of their own...in their perception of reality. They fail to perceive that sometimes people don't always think the same way as they do. Different individuals think differently but not necessarily in a bad sense!

Just because they don't share your opinions, does not mean that they are stupid or a lesser intellectual. You have to accept people for who they are, faults and all. Do not let pride overwhelm your senses. Most people miss out on important things by letting pride get in the way.

It's not just pride. It might also be the animosity that you might feel towards a certain individual or individuals. Just because you are angry or having a hostile relationship with someone...it's not an excuse to overlook their ability or talents or ideas.

Most people don't see the whole picture. And that's the problem. Even if they do, they see it through their own eyes and not objectively. They bring along their bias and colour the situation as they see fit. And, the hell-of-it is that they don't seem to realize it! Or maybe...they don't want to!

And, as I sat at the cafeteria, listening to all the sounds around me...I thought...Are all people like this. Do they really see outside the box or is that just a context applied within a small sphere? No matter how open-minded they are or seem to be, they are yet still confined by their own, self-revolving, narrow perceptions... hidden beneath a thin layer of superficial conversation topics and world views.

And, I ask myself...Am I like that? Will I be one of them? Am I already one of them? I dont' want to be...No, I don't!


***

Not all taxi drivers are bad after all!

There are good people out there. More accurately, good cab drivers! Yesterday was a good example. I was stranded at the Black den as I came out at about 8pm to look for the public bus. There were none and according to the security guards, they haven't seen one in over two hours!

I was doomed. There was no other way for me to get my express bus station. Fortunately for me, there was one taxi. But having had the kind of experience with 'cut-throat' taxi fares, I was reluctant. As I waited at the security room, there was this old uncle who was talking about the sorry state of bus services here. (I couldn't agree more!). Anyways, he offered to drop me off at the station at a reasonable amount of "RM 2 or 3", he said. Needless to say, I was so happy. (That's how desperate I was...and I know real well about the transportation system here!)

I agreed and got on the taxi. The drive was about 5 - 10 minutes. But throughout the journey, he was busy talking about the kinds of jobs that is best for girls. And then, he was talking about his daughters and what jobs they have. Well, there I was tuning in an out of his conversation, nodding and saying "hmmm" at appropriate pauses and after every sentence. When we reached the bus station, I got out and handed the money to him. But he didn't accept it!!!

I was like (*eye-balls out*)"Really!". But of course, i didn't say that out loud. I just smiled and thanked him "very much". And he drove off. Hmmm...maybe, i should have been more attentive to what he was talking, instead of acting like an electronic-operated puppet. He was a nice guy...Well, I guess not all cab driver are money-minded, annoying homo sapiens...after all!!!.