I was a behind schedule. To my irritation, the car ahead of me was moving very slowly.

 

I assumed the driver must be on the phone and got irritated as hell.

 

In spite of my generous gentle consistent honking, he was not giving me space of overtake him! I lost my cool.

 

I decided to roughly overtake that car and give the driver a piece of my mind.

 

As I was overtaking, I noticed the small sticker on the car’s rear windshield!

 

“Physically challenged. Thank you for being patient.”

 

And that changed everything!!

 

Shame replaced anger.

 

I slowed down and gently fell in line behind him!!

I winced at the thought that there will be enough idiots like me who will lose their patience with this young man.

 

My follow up thought was, “Why do we need stickers to be patient with people!?”

 

The truth is, if I hadn’t read the sticker, I would have misbehaved with the driver.

 

I would have showered him mercilessly with anger and disgust.

 

And he would have gone through so much pain!

 

This realisation was followed by a few questions.

 

1. What would it take for me to be patient and kind to people?

 

2. Will I be more patient & kind with others if people had labels pasted on their back?

 

Labels like –

Lost my job
Was insulted badly
Feeling lonely
Fighting cancer
Going through a bad divorce
Suffering Emotional abuse
Lost a loved one
Always taken for granted
Was betrayed
Feeling worthless
Financially broken

…and more like these???

 

Isn’t it possible that everyone who irritates us, is fighting a battle we know nothing about?

 

The least we can do is be patient & kind!!!

 

I have decided to respect the invisible labels that exist but are unseen.

 

Would love to know your thoughts about this.