The Lion and The Shark

Looking at this topic and I think I’ve written something similar to it before. But you know, I feel that some things can not be over-emphasized. As far as it’s something we see every day, something that we notice in our daily lives, I feel it’s worth talking about.

Arrogance. I see it a lot. The guy at the mall flares up just because the other guy ran into him and he feels he should pay for letting his filthy hands on his clothes. I saw this one happen and I was just aghast at the outright narcissism. Like he didn’t even stain it or anything. While I was fuming on the man’s behalf as he kept apologizing to the adamant man, I was unaware that I was soon going to go through the same situation.

Ironically, this happened in Church. I was seated beside this bulky man in his all-white outfit. He’d come in late and I was already writing so as he sat down, I turned to him and attempted greeting but then, my ballpoint pen which was unknowingly pointed in his direction greeted him first. But I’m telling you the pen mark wasn’t more than a centimetre long. And also on an inconspicuous part of his trousers.

But I owned up immediately and apologized profusely for my clumsiness, stating that I just wanted to greet him but my pen beat me to it. Basically trying to take the sting out of the whole situation. I was still offering up an apologetic smile hoping his anger which I saw simmering in his eyes would be diffused.

“How dare you.” He growled at me. I’m telling you, it was an actual growl. I couldn’t even act demure because I was surprised. I looked him straight in the eye and said, “I’m really sorry.”

“Do you know how much it costs? Can you afford the cost of laundry? What kind of insult is this?”

Now, I’ll say two things. First off, the thing about growling voices is that even if it’s a whisper which this guy was definitely not doing, it would carry to a lot of people. So just imagine the heads that were turning. I hate causing scenes so much so I was more than uncomfortable.

And the second thing is, despite my age, I’m kind of petite and reasonably small in frame which is okay, but compared to the hefty, scowling man, I may have as well been an ant in his eyes. And I’m certain he saw that so he expected me to cower in fear as he looked at me like he would have had no qualms crushing me.

But the good thing was, I deal with arrogant people like that almost every time. So, I met him eye to eye and said calmly, “I’ve apologized to you, Sir. I really am sorry and I wish i could take back the last few minutes. However, that’s the last time I’m going to say it.” I promptly ignored him and focused on what the minister was saying.

The thing about arrogant people is that once someone can stand up to them and be upfront, they won’t change, no. That’s too much to ask for. But, they will have it at the back of their minds that not everyone can be victimized by it and think better about who they are displaying it to.

Confidence. I also see it a lot. And I’ve got to say that it’s top three most attractive things about a person. It’s in the way a person walks and the way the person talks and the way the person generally carries him or herself. It comes from a certainty of who you are as a person that has nothing to do with the things you own and more to do with your values, the worth you place on yourself as a person and the self-assurance that characterizes you.

I was in a group of people once and this lady that was our age mate but had spent a lot of time overseas was talking. I was enraptured with every word she spoke. I saw the other ladies give her snide, contemptuous looks and one even whispered behind me. “Such arrogance.” Now, I’m not dumb enough not to realize that these remarks stemmed from envy. After the meeting, I walked up to one of the snide talkers and told her that instead of her being envious, why didn’t she seek to know what gave her that confidence that she could speak in a room of people with absolute ease and a smile on her face?

I admire confidence a lot and it’s something I try my best to do. Being and acting confident. So, that’s the difference. While arrogance stems from an inflated sense of superiority and many times, insecurity. Confidence is just owning who you are as a person and being true to that. I do hope I meet more confident and less arrogant people in my life. But as that’s not entirely possible, I’d just have to master the art of dealing with the latter set.

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_{This is my entry to The Weekend Engagement Topics by @galenkp.}

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Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Image is mine.

Jhymi🖤