Jack has been very remiss with Wednesday blog posts – but there have been many distractions –

I learned a lesson some years ago that has stayed with me over the years. I was a senior manager in a community college in Scotland and was going through a difficult time. This was due to the hidden actions of other colleagues, and I felt isolated and alone.

Two of my colleagues (both women) could sense I was troubled and invited me out a few times to restaurants or bars for a meal or a drink. I’m sure they did this together so there wouldn’t be any gossip although they would have been perfectly capable of dealing with that anyway.

The lesson it taught me is that whenever it seems that anyone is behaving in a manner you consider unprofessional or unnecessarily awkward, you need to remember that you don’t know what else is going on their life. Most people try to keep their work life and personal life apart but I suspect that is almost impossible these days, with so many people in upheaval from the recent storm.

Seeing the devastation affecting other areas, I got thinking about how sometimes it’s upfront and obvious how people are affected by events. In those times, maybe we give grace a little longer. I’ve tended to give people the benefit of the doubt anyway, but these days everyone can see what’s happening.

But not always – – –

Sometimes those battles are hidden, and in those situations a little friendship, even a kind word, goes a long way.

I’ve been described as an empathetic person and I think it all goes back to those two wise and observant women! Ever since then I’ve tried to give folk some slack. If we can all do the same during these stormy times, perhaps we can weather it a little better—together.