Hello ,
A few years ago a friend and I were sitting on a train. We were talking as we went through photos on a little camera (this was before smartphones became popular). Each time we changed to a new photo, the camera made a little sound - a 'beep' or something.
It wasn't loud. However, the lady in the seat behind us leaned forward and asked us to stop. The sound of the camera was annoying (1) her - I think she was trying to sleep (this was in the middle of afternoon, not late at night!).
I was amazed that she had said something - our voices were louder than the camera - and we weren't shouting. So we put the camera away - or turned off the 'beep' sound, I can't remember which.
Which brings me to something I saw a week or two ago.
I was on a train (again). There was the usual mix of people doing what people do on trains. Some were talking, others were staring (2) at their phones.
Yes, there was noise, but nothing too crazy. Nothing that I wished would stop.
So I was really surprised by what happened at one station.
A lady who I guess was a flight attendant (due to her uniform) stood up to get off. She went past a seat where a young guy was sitting. He was listening to something on his smartphone, but he wasn't using earphones or anything.
At his seat, she stopped and, just like in her job, she politely asked him to turn the volume down for the comfort of other travellers.
He was surprised and did what she asked, but she had already gone.
I thought she had been annoyed with the noise from his phone. But maybe because of her job, she's super sensitive to what others might be feeling, so she thought she needed to say something. I don't know.
Looking around, I don't even know if anyone else noticed. They were too busy with their own thoughts - or phones.
Are you annoyed by little things, , or are you only upset by bigger things. Have you ever been told to be quiet by a stranger? Let me know if you have...
Have a calm week,
Andrea
(1) annoying - makes you a little bit mad or upset, or so you can't think properly
(2) staring - looking at something for a long time, not looking around, just focussed on one thing (you say 'stare' the same as 'stair')
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