“We all have the potential to be an angel or a devil. Most of us are in between.” - Tania Yardley
A legendary singer named Michael Jackson once said “we are the world.” So, if our society is ever going to grow for the better, it starts with us not fixating on our agendas in ways that come at the expense of everyone else’s ability to fulfill their purpose.
All around the world, it seems like people are only concerned with getting theirs, which leads to more conflict as we all try to navigate life from the confines of our own little bubbles, without concern for the next person. A lawyer named Gavin found this out the hard way after his car collided with that of an insurance broker by the name of Doyle, in the dramatic thriller Changing Lanes starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson. The rushed and inconsiderate handling of this minor automobile accident leads to Gavin’s loss of a legal document with millions of dollars at stake, and costs Doyle the custody of his children – all within a mere 20 minutes.
Of course, there were other factors that may have contributed to Doyle’s court hearing not going in his favor but Gavin’s failure to acknowledge the presence and importance of other drivers on the road in the first place, makes this lawyer an accomplice to the chain of events that occurred on what seems like the worse days ever for both men. Unfortunately, their bad luck kept on coming because each man is only worried about himself and his own plight; how to get over on the other one and how to make their adversary pay because they blame each other for their problems. Do you want to know when things start looking up for both of them? It’s when both of these guys decided to have a heart.
So what does a movie about reckless driving, and road rage, have to do with the rest of us?! A whole hell of a lot, given that we not only perceive strangers (and even those we know) to be hurdles that we must jump over to get on with our tasks, we treat them as such; as if they’re committing some type of crime by going at a pace that differs from ours and/or in a manner that does not meet our satisfaction.
Realize that you share this world with billions of other people who each have their own struggles, responsibilities and concerns. The next person has things to do, just like you. Someone else has strong viewpoints and belief systems, just like you. Another individual is seeking a way to get his or her needs met, just like you. We all have a sense of urgency for whatever it is we’re going after. The intensity may vary but the feeling is the same.
Can YOU describe a situation or matter you wish more people would approach with more compassion?