Intolerance….
Stupid little idiosyncrasies that can drive us absolutely MENTAL!
Omg, guys I’ve been doing volunteer work for a foundation this past week, and being back in an office environment has just made me realise how intolerant I am.
Just a note: this is not an anti-semitic, racist, dogmatic, or insulting blog post at all. This is me merely sharing my intolerances with you and me wanting you to have a laugh and share your own.
I’m ADD and OCD – a great combination right? On top of that, I’m a neat freak and some would say intolerant. I’m convinced I’m somewhat on the spectrum (not intending to insult people who really are on the spectrum). I cannot deal with constant noise. A slight subtle hummm in the background or a constant tap, shaking of legs, or that BIC PEN CLICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have TMJ issues and that just makes the issue worse!
So here we go. I’m doing a bit of volunteer work (for all my sins). Do good they said, it will be fun they said! The office space is open-plan – management and general workers are all in a shared space. We’re a multi-racial office and people’s ages vary from fresh graduates to the owner who is in her 70s. Such a divine initiative and company. I’m told what needs to get done and basically, I get on with it. I make friends and everybody is awesome and kind. We’re really getting on! Lots of laughs. Until one day. We’re busy working, all focused and quiet. Then, the pen clicking starts. The person next to me starts shaking their legs. The person opposite me is crunching an apple and then someone starts to humm to the music they’re listening to through their AirPods.
GUYS ALL AT ONCE!!!!!!!!!! I can barely deal with one but ALL of it? Winter is definitely here and it’s cold, but there I was SWEATING.
I broke out in hives and literally was on the verge of tears. I went to the bathroom, splashed some water on my face, and wondered what three years of not working with people had done to me. Why am I not normal? How intolerant have I actually become? Anyway, the hives disappeared and I calmed down. Overall it turned out not to be too bad a day.
The following day I arrived at the office and made myself a cup of tea. I’d meditated, I had ye old faithful ‘Urbies’(Urbanol) in my bag and I was all set for day two. The day was going swimmingly. It was very busy and not too many people were taking a lunch break. I, therefore, decided to eat my lunch at my desk. NOW, I’ve worked in office environments where I’ve been told what is allowed to be warmed up in the microwave, whether or not you’re allowed to eat at your desks, etc. so I feel that a cheese and tomato sandwich on health bread is sufficient in the office. No smells, no crunching. I feel that I’ve considered everyone’s idiosyncrasies. Well, mine were NOT MET! The chicken bone crunching has started and the pilchards were warmed up in the microwave. Did I mention that this is an open-plan office and the kitchenette is NOT separate? It’s ALL in the teeny tiny office with all 18 of us. You might be thinking that I’m writing this to be funny and that I’ve over-exaggerated. BUT this is exactly how it was! Pilchards and chicken bones for day two! Please can someone validate my feelings because I am literally going insane!!!!!!!!!
I go home convinced it cannot get worse. I tell myself that I just need to deal with it. I’ve been out of the work environment for so long that I have developed certain idiosyncrasies that I just need to deal with. That evening I meditate again, calm my nerves, have a lekker bath and a BIG GLASS OF WINE and possibly a box of smokes!
Day three. It’s still cold in JHB and the flu is going around. Lots of runny noses in the office. Yessss I’m going there….. the big famous snot snarl and throat scratching through the ears. It sounds like a person is swallowing too hard – I dunno how people do it. I’ve always wanted to actually feel what it feels like, but that noise followed by a deeeeeep snot snarl gets me going!
Well, this is what awaited me on day three! Let me tell you something; the monks in Tibet who took YEARS to learn how to levitate would be exceptionally proud of me because it took me only two split seconds to fully levitate!
I Fu&$EN lost my shit! I went ape and told everybody that all of this was JUST TOO MUCH!
Now, I’m just a volunteer so I was somewhat embarrassed by my behaviour. I went to the office manager and apologised, fully expecting to be told to leave (which was actually fine with me because I was now gatvol – and wasn’t being paid). She laughed at me! Yes – laughed and then thanked me for doing something that she had not found the courage to do!
WHAT GURRRL?????? Are you joking? No, no, no, no, no! I instantly went into fix mode. I quickly typed A Do’s and Don’ts in the office memo. A rule was made: NO smelly foods in the office, otherwise eat outside. And the microwave got put in the storeroom for warming purposes. No crunching bones, no shaking legs, no snot snarling, and no throat scratching. Basically, just sit and type and shuddup! But, this was somewhat unrealistic. So, I edited it. Fair house rules and fair guidelines. This was welcomed by everyone and I even got everyone involved to divulge what drives them crazy and what they do and don’t like. Mine were obviously non-negotiables but theirs we could discuss – hahaha! We all had fun and a good few laughs and this made the working environment that much better to work in.
I always considered myself a tolerant person, but this experience taught me that as humans’ tolerance is difficult to master. We all have our own quirks that, unbeknownst to us, annoy other people, but they are also a part of what makes us unique. However, we need to learn to be tolerant. When last was your tolerance tested in the workplace? And when last was somebody tolerant towards you and your idiosyncrasies? How did that make you feel? It made you feel validated and not judged right? Tolerance however is not about just putting up with things – it’s about MUTUAL respect between people and is an important value to strive towards.
So this week’s homework; Lose your shit and be a little more tolerant than last week!
Love you all
M
