If you’ve never left the country, much less the
state you were born in, it’s easy to think your way
of doing things is the only way – or even worse,
the “right” way.
Last time I heard the report, there are over 250
different ways to wash dishes. And probably even
more yet undiscovered.
Yesterday I was sitting in a coffee bar on China’s
Hainan Island. Now, by coffee bar you may think
of Starbucks and nothing more – yet this coffee
bar serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and more.
By more I mean ice cream. As well as an array of
freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. I ordered
two glasses of celery juice to help cool me off – the tropical
weather here can be brutal.
Sitting across the table from me in the coffee bar is my
brother-in-law. He gets a coffee and a plate of eggs, sunny
side up – as well as some bacon and toast.
Now – get ready my friend as the punch line is about to strike.
When the plate of sunny side up eggs arrrived, my brother-in-law
grabbed the straw that came with his plate. He then inserted the
straw into the egg yolk and vaccuumed the yolk into his mouth.
I tried my best to ignore this. Didn’t work. The slurping sound was
incredibly irritating. So I opted to insert index fingers into the holes
in my ears and block the sound.
I did this, mind you, instead of getting mad – or telling my in-law
that he was doing something wrong. He’s not wrong – just weird.
And so am I to him. My only hope for true acceptance of this way
of eating eggs is to try it myself – which I may do someday. He, on
the other hand, will probably not order an orange juice with a raw
egg or two blended in, as I often do.
All this goes to show that we are all strange to somebody somewhere –
and it behooves you to not be too concerned about it. Yes, sometimes
you need to take a definite stand on things – but that is usually based
upon principle.
“In matters of style, flow with the current, in matters of principle,
stand like a rock,” said Thomas Jefferson.
This afternoon I had to apply the above. I ordered the same glass
of celery juice. First the waitress brought me pear juice. I told her
I didn’t order pear juice, to bring me what I ordered. She then brought
me a greenish liquid, which upon tasting, didn’t seem right. Why? Because
they had added sugar to it. I sent it back again.
Finally, I got what I ordered.
The key thing to remember is that everyone else in the place can order
their juice with added sugar – and I have no quibble whatsoever. It’s
none of my business. The same goes for my brother-in-law slurping his
egg yolks through a straw. I may not like it – but it’s none of my business.
Knowing the difference – knowing what IS your business and what ISN’T
your business can help delete a significant chunk of your worries and
concerns immediately.
Keep this in mind as you go through your day.
P.S. One of the keys to a flexible mind is not only traveling abroad,
but traveling the vast inner space of your own mind. When you can
accept others strangeness – as well as your own – you’re on the winning
track. To learn how easy this is to do – and how much it will help you to live the good life – go to http://www.psycho-cybernetics.com/zrlcourse.html
P.P.S. Don’t forget about my October seminar, The Science of Super-
Human Marketing – http://www.knockoutmarketing.com