Giving Others the Benefit of the Doubt
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Society -> subcategory Relationships.
Giving Others the Benefit of the Doubt
Discovering Life Lessons in Everyday Moments
In aikido, there's a saying: "There are many lessons on the mat." This suggests that practicing aikido is not just about mastering martial arts; it's also about learning important life lessons. For instance, if someone grabs my wrist too hard and I get upset but don’t voice my discomfort, I eventually realize it's more effective to simply ask them to lighten up. This insight often reveals that I struggle to express my needs elsewhere in life, causing unnecessary suffering and blame. Indeed, many lessons can be learned.
Similarly, I've found that swimming daily offers its own set of life lessons. Every session becomes an introspective adventure.
Navigating the Lane Partner Dilemma
Just like in aikido, swimming pairs us with various "partners." Some glide silently through the water, while others splash noisily. Some swim straight, respecting lane boundaries, while others veer off course. With some partners, cooperation is seamless, as if dancing together. With others, it’s messy, like constantly stepping on each other's toes. Do you ever feel this way? At the pool, as in aikido, I've learned that my attitude and actions can either complicate or ease interactions.
Lesson
1
: We are given many dance partners in life. Whether the dance flows smoothly or not often depends on us.Please Pick Another Lane
This leads to the second lesson. One particular partner seems to gravitate towards my lane, even when others are open. Swimming slower than I do, I must either wait for him or turn around to avoid passing, which isn’t allowed. His erratic strokes often splash me. When I see him approaching, I think, “Oh no, please choose another lane.” But he doesn’t.
One morning, arriving late, I found him already swimming. An empty lane was available. As I warmed up at the pool’s edge, he noticed me and offered to switch lanes since he preferred mine, lacking strong jets that disturbed him. This gesture made me realize he wasn’t trying to annoy me. His lane choice wasn’t personal; it was preference-driven. And here he was, offering me the “good” lane. What a considerate person!
Lesson
2
: It’s not always about me.The Benefit of the Doubt
A third lesson emerged from the hot tub. After a swim, I encountered a man vigorously swishing his legs, creating waves. Attempting to relax, I closed my eyes but found it impossible. Observing him intently, hoping he’d notice the disruption, yielded no response. I even sighed audibly?"still nothing.
Determined to address it, I recalled that curiosity works better than criticism. I asked if he was exercising. To my surprise, he smiled warmly and explained that his doctor recommended it to strengthen knee ligaments after he had to stop jogging due to joint pain. He shared his story of adapting to new exercises to maintain health. Suddenly, I saw him as a kind, dedicated person.
Lesson
3
: People usually have positive intentions. Give them the benefit of the doubt.Understanding the Benefit of the Doubt
What does giving the benefit of the doubt mean? As I swim lap after lap, I reflect that it involves questioning my judgments about others’ motives. Is someone really trying to annoy me? Probably not. Are they creating waves to keep others away? I choose to doubt such assumptions and explore further.
More often than not, I discover genuinely nice people behind the veil of my assumptions, enriching my experiences and making swimming more enjoyable.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Giving Others the Benefit of the Doubt.
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