How might the current struggles of the world be inviting change in service of individual and collective thriving? How might I lean into these changes?

I thought of sharing this because of some other posts this morning. It is about how I am trying to remain peaceful in a society that doesn’t always seem to want peace.
This week as I went to pay for gasoline in person, I was wearing a mask, as I have continued to do in stores, even though I am vaccinated. The cashier tried to ridicule me for wearing it before I even spoke. I just said quietly, “I know, but I’m just worried about children with the Delta variant spreading.” She continued, in a loud, somewhat angry (or at least worked up voice) about how she’s gotten in trouble for voicing her opinion but she’s entitled to free speech and if they try to “close down again THEY CAN JUST SHOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!” And she said, just about shouting, a lot of other things. Oh boy, she did opinionate all over the place. Surprisingly, though this was unpleasant and certainly inappropriate behavior with a customer, I didn’t feel threated or shaken. Or persuaded, lol, by her arguments, which I’m convinced were somewhat parroted. I think on this subject she could get angry in an empty room. She was clearly trying to get confrontation from me, but not succeeding in either that nor in getting me to flee. I didn’t argue. I said thank you for my receipt in the usual manner.

I have changed my service in the last two years. Though I have been working to lower climate impact and working for equalities in much the same way, I have changed in how I respond to the embedded societal conflicts and deeply seated prejudices. I know you can’t argue with crazy. But I also know not to give up, and that isolating ourselves to like-minded islands of people is not helpful at all. Segregation never works against prejudice. Like dealing with someone who is ill and can’t help it, I need to have patience, I need to listen, I need to be non-confrontational, …actually I kind of need to act like a friend and be a friend.

Listening is important. Not discounting opinions because they happen not to agree with mine, is… difficult…. but an important service. Remembering that we are all part of a larger family, is important. How can we collectively thrive, if we see no collective but are only taking sides?

All peace after conflict begins with listening to, and eventually discussing, the hard stuff. It begins with acknowledging wounds that may or may not be caused by us, and trying to find resolution and justice. It begins with not just thinking of our self, our position, our wants.

We have much to teach, for our world is very ignorant right now in many things, but listening comes first, I think. We have things to learn, too.

Even though I only said one thing to the lady, I think she heard me… not in the moment because she was in knee-jerk response, but perhaps it will help. We will see when I go in there again for gasoline. After writing this, I am actually hoping to see her again, and learn what she is like as a person, and seeing if she reacts the same way to a mask.