Robert Fisk, Middle East correspondent for The Independent inspired me with a new mantra. On the National Radio Project as he quipped “Hold On! I think we have some common ground.” He was talking about some heavy-duty issues, but it gave me an idea how to deal with everyday life here in Bellevue too. Perfect timing –– I was just returning from a troublesome encounter at the dog park.
My rights. Her rights. My boston terrier was in the fenced area; a young girl came along with her boxers who happened to be aggressive with small dogs. “Take yours out,” she demanded. As much as I tried to keep my cool, her logic made no sense to me. She verbally attacked me, then my dog. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t about to give in. Sharing my side of the story didn’t help at all. I didn’t know what to do. I started singing, “All you need is Love.” The whole thing went downhill fast.
If I would have used this line, the interaction may have gone smoother. “Hold On! I think we have some common ground.” We love our dogs and want them to enjoy exercise. We don’t want any dog to get hurt. We both just need about 10 minutes of quality time. The list goes on and on.
If you ever find yourself in a ‘me versus you’ situation, remember to hold on… and find the common ground!