You can’t please everyone, can you?

A few weeks ago I was in the airport in Shanghai, waiting for my plane ride home. The gate was due to open any time soon, so we were all stood in a nice orderly queue. 

Now, I’m a chirpy chappy, even when I’m travelling. So as I was waiting, I started whistling a little tune. Nothing loud or obnoxious. Just a happy little whistle to help pass the time. A few people in the queue next to me smiled, enjoying my light entertainment. Unfortunately, it seems not everyone is quite so chipper in the airport. “Can you shut up?” a random guy from the queue suddenly said. 

Now, you know me… I’m a friendly chappy but there’s no need for rudeness like that. If my whistling was troubling him, he could just ask politely and I’d be happy to oblige. But “Can you shut up” doesn’t inspire me to be especially helpful… So I ignored him, and continued whistling my merry tune. I won’t bore you with the details of the story, but the guy properly kicked off, caused a fuss and caused a whole load of bother that didn’t need to be there if he’d just been polite. 

It’s weird, isn’t it, how reactions can be so different? Just a few weeks back at Felixstowe, I was at a viewing cafe, watching the ships and whistling, just like at the airport. Over comes this lovely old dear, all smiles, telling me how much she enjoyed my whistling, reminding her of “the good old days.”

It just goes to show, doesn’t it? You can’t please everyone all the time. So the moral of the story is to stop trying! Know your own tune and whistle it anyway! Even if some people don’t like your vibe… 

How about you? Have you had a random person kick off at you rudely in public? I’d love to hear your tales…