Humble Pie

Have you ever made a mistake so bad you cant believe YOU made it?

Like it's SO out of character. YOUR character.

Well recently, that happened to me.

You see, I have always taken pride in the fact that I am a person with alot of common sense.

Don't laugh.

But to be honest, growing up, I realized that common sense isnt really that common - because what comes to you naturally, actually depends on what you have been exposed to.

I remember a conversation i had with my colleague before (fellow junior) and we were laughing at the expectations of some seniors - like how they would examine another person's work and look very irritable when the person doesnt get it.

Irritated senior, "It's common sense isnt it?"
Colleague / me / any other junior person: Blank look.

It's common sense to YOU cuz u've done it before, but not to us! we havent seen something like that!


So our conclusion - actually common sense isnt really that common.. haha.


Actually you can fit the above in any context la, medicine, law, accountancy, event management, etc.

I am suddenly reminded of the army lingo, "BLUR RECRUIT" -



Yuarh.

HE IS RECRUIT THATS WHY HE IS BLUR MAH, if he is not blur he would be your sergeant or OFFICER ALREADY!! that's why we have blur RECRUIT!

USE UR BLANE USE UR BLANE USE UR BLANE!

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Okay.

I am digressing, as usual. And, my closet arh-lianess is manifesting. But you get my drift.

SO.

We were talkin about me taking pride that i have common sense - by that i mean the knowing-how-to-take-care-when-it-comes-to-important-things-that-you-have-to-do. So maybe organized / prudent / responsible would be the right word.

ANYHOWz.

Recently I made a mistake. I mistake that was so dumb. So careless and so RIDICULOUS i was momentarily stunned. Then i spent a whole night trying to rectify the problem and worrying about how i would cook in the frying pan the next day.

But I decided that I would be brave and "TAKE IT LIKE A MAN". It's really my fault anyway.

So the next day, I marched up to my boss and told him about it. And what I did to rectify the problem. And waited with bated breath.

A picture speaks a thousand words.. So this was really how i was feeling, what i was really expecting to get (and i fully deserved it i think).



To my VERY GREAT surprise, he didnt say a thing.

Or it would be more accurate to say, he said, "it's okay. people make mistakes".

Then he went on with the work.

I was stunned.

Let me explain. Yes, the mistake was one that was rectifiable, i.e. it's not the end of the world. But i was HORRIFIED because I MADE IT, and such a stupid one that could have been TOTALLY AVOIDED.

STUPID MISTAKE = Stupid / careless / inefficient / unorganized / [fill in the blank urself] person

If i were my boss, I would've skinned me alive.

But he didnt leh. He showed grace, which is basically - (unmerited) favour.

WAH.


So what did i take away from this incident?

One. To show grace.

Two. To not judge a person quickly. (even if we are talking about work, and what is "common sense") So much for sizing up people - interviews are farces - they should be called oral exams. Ha ha ha..

Three. Give people time to develop. What is common sense to me is because I had the chance to see it before, in some way or other - others may not have. Give them time to see it.

Boohooo. i want to be a good boss too!

how I LIKE lawyer jokes

I usually like lawyer jokes. alot.



I like them because they make light of what happens on a daily basis.






It's like how you find out, whilst you are in the middle of a flight, that what you are wearing may be a fashion disaster at the airport where you would be landing, shortly. And what you are wearing cost you.

Then you step out of the plane, and quick gasps of relief wing you when you see another person, in similar garb at the airport. That other person looks at what you are wearing. Approving.

Yay. Somebody else recognizes this darn thing on me probably can feed a whole lecture theatre of students for a month.

You get my drift? But it's okay if you dont. hahaa..














Once, I had an application where we managed to enter judgment against the opponents (That's a good thing, btw). The only issue before the Court was that of costs and disbursements - and my learned friend (that's how we address our opponents in Court) and I slugged at each other. We got pretty upset with one another there and then in chambers - over 300 dollars. At some point in time whilst we were sparring, it crosses my mind whether he is putting up a fight simply because he is spoiling for one, or, if it is a question of principle and not the quantum of whatever we are squabbling about.

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On rare occasions, I actually stop and wonder why solicitors fight.

Perhaps because on the one hand - they are paid to further their clients interests, in accordance to, justice. So, the lawyer does what he is paid to do. But others of times, maybe the lawyer fights because he wants to win, real bad - and it doesnt matter who is on the other side, or who is paying his bill. Maybe, sometimes, the lawyer fights because the opponent solicitors remind her of an ex-boyfriend. Or she just wants to make her mother happy.

In all of the above, if they all win, which lawyer is the greatest?

And does it matter why they do it, so long they win? Should it matter? Then again, what is really the big deal if the judge rules either way?


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Then I think about myself, why I am fighting tooth and nail this time, to get what I think my clients deserve. Even if it is just 300 dollars. Because it is my job. Because it is a matter of principle. Because some people need to be put into the right place

And sometimes I think, I dont know.

After the adrenaline ebbs, there is the ugly grainy taste - like holding rusty iron nails in my mouth. I am not sure if it was because of the manner we were fighting, or what we were fighting about. The judge gave me what I argued for, but so what?

All I am saying is, the heart of the matter is really what matters. Maybe we shouldnt be so quick to judge another, when we dont know whats on their heart.