Sunday, October 30, 2005
Week of Reconciliation
I propose that the week after ARBA National Convention and the week after Nationals be designated as a "Semi-Annual Week of Reconciliation."
National shows are great fun, thrilling, and are wonderful opportunities to learn more about rabbits and our hobby. But they are also tiring and stressful, and provide many opportunities for conflict.
Although it is certainly best to apologize as soon as you know you have offended someone, it's not too late to spend some time thinking about the last week, and now, as you feel more rested and less stressed, to say, "I'm sorry." It's not too late to save a friendship or repair a hurt.
Whether your friends and acquaintances decide to forgive and forget is certainly up to them. But whether you decide to hold onto offenses is totally up to you.
If you have a hard time letting go of minor grievances, try writing them down on a sheet of paper. Say to yourself, even out loud, "I forgive you." Then crumble up the sheet and throw it away.
For bigger problems, you may need to open up communication, even if you think it should be the other person who does so. A real friendship is worth more than the price of a rabbit. And a real friend will make allowances for behavior that is the product of stress and exhaustion. A real friend is worth starting an uncomfortable conversation with.
For the biggest problems, you may have to decide that you will never agree or come to terms. But think hard about what it will take not to let those problems or disagreements take over your thoughts or ruin your beloved hobby. There are people that you can just wish "good luck" to but not keep banging your head against the wall trying to make it work.
I know that I personally lost my temper this past week. I hurt people's feelings unintentionally by being thoughtless. I probably hurt other people without even realizing it. I got too wrapped up in myself. I've said, "I'm sorry," to those I realized I hurt, but I also want to say, "I'm sorry," to any that I offended without realizing.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Holland Lops Of Distinction"
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/blog/BLOG.html ¶ 11:46 AM
National shows are great fun, thrilling, and are wonderful opportunities to learn more about rabbits and our hobby. But they are also tiring and stressful, and provide many opportunities for conflict.
Although it is certainly best to apologize as soon as you know you have offended someone, it's not too late to spend some time thinking about the last week, and now, as you feel more rested and less stressed, to say, "I'm sorry." It's not too late to save a friendship or repair a hurt.
Whether your friends and acquaintances decide to forgive and forget is certainly up to them. But whether you decide to hold onto offenses is totally up to you.
If you have a hard time letting go of minor grievances, try writing them down on a sheet of paper. Say to yourself, even out loud, "I forgive you." Then crumble up the sheet and throw it away.
For bigger problems, you may need to open up communication, even if you think it should be the other person who does so. A real friendship is worth more than the price of a rabbit. And a real friend will make allowances for behavior that is the product of stress and exhaustion. A real friend is worth starting an uncomfortable conversation with.
For the biggest problems, you may have to decide that you will never agree or come to terms. But think hard about what it will take not to let those problems or disagreements take over your thoughts or ruin your beloved hobby. There are people that you can just wish "good luck" to but not keep banging your head against the wall trying to make it work.
I know that I personally lost my temper this past week. I hurt people's feelings unintentionally by being thoughtless. I probably hurt other people without even realizing it. I got too wrapped up in myself. I've said, "I'm sorry," to those I realized I hurt, but I also want to say, "I'm sorry," to any that I offended without realizing.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Holland Lops Of Distinction"
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/blog/BLOG.html ¶ 11:46 AM
