Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Judgmental

Okay, I admit it.  I have struggled with being judgmental of others (I have to say, though, that the person I'm most judgmental of is me).  I work hard to remember that whatever other people do or are, it has little or no impact on me, especially the thing I was being judgy about today.

So I go to water aerobics.  It's mostly older ladies (one is 94) and one very old man, but there's this other person.  Class starts at 10; he arrives at 10:35.  Pretty much everyone is concentrating on the routine the teacher is taking us through (except for a couple of non-stop talkers), but this individual stands in the shallow end, where he's only half in the water, and waves his arms around in these dancercize or ballet kinds of movements, and makes loud comments that he intends to be funny.  And then he leaves about 15 minutes later.

Is there no end to these dahlias, I ask you??

The teacher doesn't seem to mind, and other people are laughing, so I guess it's just me.  Being a pathological rule-follower, the quintessential good girl who puts great stock in doing what's expected of her (a major character flaw, really), I just get so irritated at this man -- he's not doing what he's supposed to be doing!  Doesn't anyone but me care??

And what does it have to do with me?  Nothing, pretty much.  I'm at a back corner of the deep end -- he's in the shallow end; I don't find myself having a particularly hard time keeping my concentration, so what is the issue for me?  I just find myself glaring at him and judging him.

Any tips for me?  Do you find yourself struggling with being judgmental?  How do you deal with it? 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Over the years I have learned that my mulling over situations such as these are energy zappers...I reassure myself that God loves this or that individual just as he loves me and I should do the same...pretty simple...and over the years it has become quite easy...and less stressful for me ;)

TexWisGirl said...

so funny - i could see the good catholic girl in me thru this. i followed rules, did what was expected, creased my brow and tightened my lips at anyone who acted out and didn't 'follow' correctly. :)

Candy C. said...

LOL!! I'm with TWG, only it is the good Baptist girl coming out in me! :)
Sorry, no help from this rule-follower either!