Lifeshock (Wake Up) – September 14, 2012
Last Saturday I was sitting at A Moveable Feast (my Fav Restaurant) with Sherry Merritt, talking about expanding her coaching practice. We had a nice, quiet table in the corner, chatting away. Two young girls came in and settled in the booth next to ours, managing to occupy about 90% of the space in the room by talking as if they were speaking to a very large audience in a very large room. Both had those "I can't whisper" voices; and there was little to no lag time between one completing her thought and the other with her rebuttal. There seemed to be no concern that their private conversation was totally public to about 25 other people.
I got irritated at the mega-jump in noise level, telling Sherry that I couldn't hear my own thoughts, only theirs. Sherry "Tell Like It Is" Merritt turned around and, in her best teacher-voice, said, "Would y'all tone it down!" (It was not an interrogatory). I then heard the loudest voice say to her friend, "Really?!" But they did tone it down a few decibels, and I thought I heard some air-applause from the other diners!
A lifeshock (wake-up) to a couple of people who were clueless about their impact on others, a lifeshock to me about asking for what I want. I suspect Sherry was clueless about delivering the lifeshock that made them, me and others more aware – she was just being herself.
I wonder at the shift from unconsciousness to consciousness that happens when human beings be fully themselves.
While I obviously wasn’t there, your telling of the experience strikes me as a bit disconnecting. While I celebrate the lesson you got out of the moment, I encourage you to explore whether having what you want can be achieved in a way that connects with other people rather than separates. The thrIll of the “shock” part of the lifeshock might have taken presendence over the opportunity to connect with other human beings. Just a thought.
Point taken, but I didnt actually experience a thrill – nor was the lifeshock to the girls in any way mean – it was delivered more off-hand than hard. I would say the other diners were more than happy that Sherry did what she did. I have noticed that Often delivers lifeshocks to me that I dont like, wish hadnt happened. And once I admit they happened, I have always found More of myself in that process.
It’s always a challenge to “hear” tone of voice when reading. I do agree that we can appreciate life lessons even when we aren’t too keen on the delivery method. Gifts in ugly boxes, as it were.
Indeed!
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