I recently encountered a man seething with righteous indignation. The incident that provoked his fury occurred eleven months ago, yet he still bristles at the mere mention of it. He had distributed $10,000 in Christmas bonuses to his 34 employees — roughly $300 each — only to receive not a single word of thanks. He lamented: “I regret ever giving them those bonuses.”
A sage once said: “An angry person is poison throughout their entire being.” I sympathize with this poisoned soul. He is 60 years old. According to life insurance company statistics, the average number of years we have left to live is two-thirds of the difference between our current age and 80. This gentleman, if he’s lucky, might have 14 or 15 years left. Instead, he squandered nearly a full year of his limited remaining life stewing over past grievances. I truly pity him. My view is this: his expectation of gratitude was a fundamental error. He fundamentally misunderstood human nature.
Before becoming a judge, Samuel Leibowitz was a renowned criminal defense attorney who saved 78 defendants from the electric chair. (Image: via Public Domain)
If you saved someone’s life, would you expect gratitude? You might. But Samuel Leibowitz, before becoming a judge, was a renowned criminal defense attorney who saved 78 criminals from the electric chair. Guess how many came to thank him in person, or at least sent a Christmas card? I think you are right — not a single one.
…
Read the full article on Nspirement
Comments