I was diagnosed with Pneumonia on the 13th of December. The doctor ( assisting my family doctor who was booked solid until January) asked me to return in a week for a follow up appointment. I went to the reception desk and asked for the appointment. She asked the doctor’s name and I didn’t have a clue. “She’s Dr. Something. 🤣 Tuesday. 10:45. Can I get a card for that?” The response, “We will email you the appointment.” Okay. Put it into my phone and away I went. This morning I walked the 1.5 km in -34 C to the clinic only to find there was no record of my appointment.

At this point I had two choices. I could scream and yell about people being incompetent and causing me to be out in -34 weather, or I could just say, “ Well guess I have to make another appointment.” Some people might think that I kind of gave in but I didn’t. I came to a point where I was happy with my reaction . All I said was, “Oh my God and it’s -31 out there. Oh well I guess I have to make another appointment.” The receptionist asked who had taken the other appointment and I said I don’t know, one of the receptionists along the row here. So she apologized and that was enough.
And the reason I did that was because there was nothing to be gained to throw somebody under the bus . I knew exactly which person I talked to. Sometimes in anger taking someone else down with you might feel a little bit better. But in the long run you don’t know what they are going through. What was the problem that the person never took my name that day? And that’s what I think it really was. I can’t remember the receptionist asking my name. So by the time I walked out the door she probably went, “I don’t have a clue how to make this appointment for her.” Or she had so much on her mind that some button didn’t get pressed. But in the end I chose kindness, compassion, and caring.
So as you go on your way in life, remember kindness and forgiveness can make for a very enjoyable and invigorating day!!