Have poked them with the preverbial messaging stick. Fingers crossed.
Edit: got reply. Hasn't sent it yet. People been sick
It might have been nice to have sent you a quick message to that effect though.
*Sigh*
When I was young, "I've been sick" was almost always an excuse, so I assumed it was the case when I heard it from other people.
Now that I'm older and I get sick with annoying frequency (this flu my son brought home has been kicking my ass for a week) and I have kids who have to be taken care of when they get sick, even if I'm sick too, my perspective has greatly changed. I've found I'm much more inclined to feel genuine sympathy (at least a twinge
) rather than annoyance.
Also, I've found that my overall stress level is at least 20 dB lower since I actually listened to my mom. I know, shocking.
She told me many, many times... but I was too sure my way was the only way, and that EVERYBODY was an asshole...
Well, that part is technically true... another part of human nature is that
each and every one of us, at some point, takes our turn being the assh'o. Anyways, she told me that every aspect of my life would be much happier if I stop assuming the worst of people and just take it as a given that in general most people aren't deliberately being mean or selfish (even those who are mean and selfish),
each and every one of us, even the fellow I'm currently annoyed as hell with, whomever it is,
is just doing the best they know how at the time, no matter how objectively awful and utterly underwhelming that best may be. Including ME.Anyways... where I'm going with this: If you really believe someone when they say they're sick, follow that through and think back to the last time YOU were sick or taking care of someone who was sick. Was your judgement the best? Did you remember every last detail of what was going on around you, or were you pretty much just overwhelmed by the tidal wave of
endless SHIT and hanging on by your toenails until the worst passed and you could get a handle on things again?
In order to TRULY change your perspective... you have to do BOTH. You have to both assume the best of people in general, AND allow yourself to feel at least a little empathy. Neither works without the other.
It is REALLY HARD to REALLY change your perspective in this way. But the rewards are definitely worth it.
mnem
*Namaste'*