Poem Discussion: On Judgments

Sep 28, 2024

Today is a good day to talk about a poem.

Without delay, here it is.

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Today, you might meet
rude ignorant, callous, vile,
and awful people.
Not everybody
will be considerate, and
they may be vicious.
“But does this all mean
that my day is forfeit now?
That I am worse off?”
Only if you choose
to agree with that judgment
of these impressions.
No one can hurt you -
no thief, driver, or stranger -
without your consent.
So, do not give it!
Reflect their angst as kindness -
it is what they’re due.
We know not their lives.
All we know is who we are -
a fellow human.

Obviously this is not about physical pain - of course your body can be hurt without your consent, just ask any stubbed toe. Let me know if you get a response - a sentient toe is an interesting toe.

I digress. 🤦‍♂️

It is free to be a good person - kind, patient, understanding, compassionate - yet not everyone places value on being one. While it is free to be a good person, sometimes it is not easy to be one to someone who is rude or mean, especially to you.

That said, it is not worth damaging your inner self to reply in kind to someone who has done wrong by you. They cannot cause you distress, because it is you who decides when you have been hurt - as inconvenient as that might be to hear.

Otherwise, if it was the actions of the person which caused the distress, then every person would have the exact same type of response, with no one showing tolerance, restraint, or indifference toward the instigator.

How do you move forward in an amicable way after experiencing negativity from someone? What is it that keeps you calm, keeps you centered during (and after) the event? Do you struggle with this, and (if you’re comfortable to share) can you think of a time when a situation got the better of you?

The Way - Didactic Stoic Poetry and Commentary

Poem Discussion: On Judgments