I recently called a restaurant to make a dinner reservation for a few weeks hence, usually an unremarkable activity. However, I was reserving for a party of twelve, on a Saturday night, at a deservedly popular restaurant (great food, great setting, great people working there), and, most significantly, in a resort town favored by the “elite,” by which I mean the wealthy, the powerful, and the influential.
When my kids face a decision that affects other people, much like in your story, I've been telling them, "Be the person you want other people to be." I'm hoping they can be part of a more civil and kind society in the future. What they lose by being less cut-throat and competitive, is more than made up by their gain in self love - knowing that they are a good person.
This is resonate of Adam Grant's Givers and Takers -- having a disposition to give and be generous can have unintended positive consequences if you believe enough people are generally "good."
Also, I hope you were still able to find a solution for the dinner and your guests!
Wait: that was YOU who almost booked Mexico at Epcot? Dammit, Roberts. (BTW according to Dad it's :"And you thought I'd do what?") Your posts are becoming the stuff of bio-lit. i love them and you. i will speak with you separately about a book deal. will make you an offer that you can't......
Through various interactions with online friends from this particular demographic, I have come to the conclusion that I’m a 38 year old Irish American woman with the soul of a Jewish man in his late 60s. I loved this whole post and especially the origin story of your family sigil.
I so dislike the term "elite," quite because of stories like yours. In my mind elite cannot be applied to people who don't care about others. They may have money, but elite they are not.
When my kids face a decision that affects other people, much like in your story, I've been telling them, "Be the person you want other people to be." I'm hoping they can be part of a more civil and kind society in the future. What they lose by being less cut-throat and competitive, is more than made up by their gain in self love - knowing that they are a good person.
This is resonate of Adam Grant's Givers and Takers -- having a disposition to give and be generous can have unintended positive consequences if you believe enough people are generally "good."
Also, I hope you were still able to find a solution for the dinner and your guests!
Wait: that was YOU who almost booked Mexico at Epcot? Dammit, Roberts. (BTW according to Dad it's :"And you thought I'd do what?") Your posts are becoming the stuff of bio-lit. i love them and you. i will speak with you separately about a book deal. will make you an offer that you can't......
Through various interactions with online friends from this particular demographic, I have come to the conclusion that I’m a 38 year old Irish American woman with the soul of a Jewish man in his late 60s. I loved this whole post and especially the origin story of your family sigil.
I so dislike the term "elite," quite because of stories like yours. In my mind elite cannot be applied to people who don't care about others. They may have money, but elite they are not.