Most everyone knows the character "Pigpen" from the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz. I love his character because he is so oblivious to how he affects others and I love his laid back attitude. While I enjoyed "Pigpen" in the comic strip meeting a true "Pigpen" in life is entirely another story.
I recently ran into a female version of Pigpen while waiting to board a plane back to Florida. The flight was delayed by 20 minutes. The boarding style was cattle-like but most passengers were taking it in stride except one very vocal woman. She slammed her bottled water down on the table as she plopped in the chair beside me. She pushed her chair so hard that the table shook. She ranted that she was accustomed to being in the lounge and having a glass of wine! She would never fly THIS airline again! I watched with a detached curiosity that turned into compassion. She was a female "Pigpen". Her aura was full of negativity, yet unlike Pigpen whose aura was just filled with dirt, she was spreading and arc of anger contaminating the very air within six feet of her. As I listened I wondered what kind of a life this woman had. It seemed to me that whatever her world consisted of it was apparent that she was full of fear and exaggerated drama.
I looked around and saw people with many bigger issues in their lives quietly waiting to board the plane while the woman went about flinging her negativity all around just hoping someone would engage with her in a festival of self-righteous complaining.
I thought about the times I have been upset and self-righteous. I thought about drama and how so many of us thrive on it. I thought about inner peace and actually felt some of it as I showered this woman with detached compassion. She was so sad and so self-involved. Some days I achieve the goal of holding a loving attitude no matter how many Pigpens are around and I admit some days are better than others. I quietly thanked the woman in my heart for showing me once again the cloud of negativity that we spread when we create drama around situations that we cannot control. And I renewed my ever-present desire to bring peace to my life through my intentions rather than living my life ruled by reactions.
Today I choose to create inner peace and harmony by accepting the ups and downs of life and viewing life through eyes of compassion and love.
5 comments:
I'm going to remember this the next time a seat back is reclined into my knees for four hours and I'm feeling less than compassionate. Here's to a little less Pigpen and little more Charlie Brown.
Thanks for sharing. This gives me hope that I too will remember who I am in the face of the "pigpens" in my day.
Thanks Nora;
I got something similar yesterday, but may be not as profound of what you just articulate so well: "if you change the way you look at your life, your life change" inspired by some celebrity Dr on TV, and got it deeply yesterday only. Thanks for reinforcing it.
I just this moment sent a Pigpen packing in my life. I noticed that a dark cloud arrived in my inbox in the form of an email that was filled with garbage. It occured to me that this same person has been dumping garbage on me for years and year. Sure she's harmless enough and I see her for who she is--another part of me is just pissed because I've continued to tolerate it. I decided to take charge of my moment by eliminating her from it. A conscious choice to be loving enough to let her know that I know. Risking losing her completely to set myself free. I respect the love and light approach. Sometimes the truth looks more like a sledge hammer.
I have been speechless about this blog Nora for about a week.... I also recently sent a Pigpen packing. HOWEVER...his Pigpen-ness was what I loved about him. He was a cloud of dirt/earth, homebodiness, childish and fun...Everyone adores him. He's funny, he's light and happy and cheerful. And I loved that he had dirt all over him all the time and lived in a half broken down house he was remodeling. My nickname for him was Pigpen....anyway I loved your post! When I travel I love to observe! You can learn so much! Thank you.
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