My sister has gone on holiday to see her son in New Zealand and do a world tour. Today she is in India.
Today I came back from Belgium. I have been offered a job in Leuven. I visited to see if I wanted to work there and to visit the client’s bi-annual staff meeting.
I was just unloading the car when I saw a 5/6 year old boy pushing my sister’s camper van. She had left it with me to look after. I called out what are you doing? It did look fun! Then an older boy about 14/15 stepped into view and closed the van door. I asked again what are you doing? “We have come to take this camper away” he replied, “It’s been sold.” I said “It’s my sister’s she hasn’t told me she has sold it.” The boy appeared innocent and gave me a paper saying the van had been sold, the keys lost, and a telephone number to ring if there were problems. I wish I could say I knew exactly what to do. I went back into my house dropped the bags and called the number on the paper. Guess what no reply.
When I wrote the line above, I phoned the police and asked them what I could have done better. They said I had done the best I could. While I waited for their reply I realised I should have asked the boys to wait while I phoned the number they suggested. If they were innocent they could have stayed.
Eventually I called the police and they responded quickly. I commented that it took me some time to find the local number. They gently advised me the best thing to do when a crime is taking place is to ring 999.
Why am I writing this story on this blog?
The main reason is because it happned to me and it might help you.
Things happen in life which we have not planned for. Make them learning experiences. Ask for advice. Think yourself.
I worked with AMWAY for a while; in some of their training someone reminded us we say “We learn by experience” and usually that means when we get something wrong we learn not to repeat it. He said the best experience to learn from is someone else’s. If we see someone get it wrong , acknowledge it, and be successful avoiding the problem, are we bold enough to learn from their experience.
Did you know that the most unique feature of an individual is their ear. I heard this on a TV police program. As a result for a bit of fun, I analysed ears. My analysis indicated there are four sizes; small, medium, large, and senior. The central hole has three sizes, small, medium and large. The hole can be postioned as high, central and low. The earlobe joins the head either upwards, downwards or square. So roughly 112 different ears. I can evaluate an ear in less than 30 seconds
When the young man appeared even though I had spent time analysing ears. I didn’t even think about it. Would you?
What have I learnt. I did not even look at the ears! I couldn’t remember the clothes the older boy wore. I forgot the best action I could have taken.
What I did was Thank the policemen. I learnt by my mistakes. I hope you learn by my mistakes. Nobody got hurt and the van is still round the corner.
I hope you learn to thank those who help you and applaud your aids.
Yours
Graham Bridgman
