It's not all about chaos

One thing we can't avoid in life is dealing with people. And that definitely comes with getting offended or even annoyed. I learned this lesson the hard way one day when my landlord crossed the line.

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My junior brother had just returned from school that afternoon, tired and hungry. As usual, he dropped his bag and went straight to the kitchen to find something to eat. He had barely settled down when my landlord, an elderly man who most times is drunk and known for his quick temper and constant complaints, called him outside. I wasn’t around at the time, but when I came back, I found my brother sitting on the door step, head down, eyes red. I immediately knew something was wrong.

Immediately I asked "Hwfa Gee, are you cool?, he hesitated to answer at first. But after much pressing, he told me that the landlord had shouted at him for using the compound tap for too long,just imagine the reason.Not only did he shout, but he also pushed him and called him names, telling him to “go back to his village” and other humiliating things. Hearing that, I felt my blood boil. My heart started beating so fast I could hear it in my ears,Does this man know who I am? My mind echoed to me.

Without thinking twice, I stormed straight to the landlord’s flat and knocked hard on his door. When he opened, I didn’t even wait for greetings or explanations. I let my anger pour out. I told him he had no right to lay hands on my brother or insult him. I raised my voice so loud that other tenants started coming out to watch and calm the atmosphere. In that moment, I didn’t care about respect or age difference. All I could think of was how humiliated my brother must have felt.

The landlord tried to interrupt me, but I didn’t let him speak. I was shaking, my hands were literally trembling as I spoke,all I wanted was an opportunity to beat this man up. After a while, he started shouting back, saying he had the right to discipline any child in his compound. That only made me angrier. It felt like I had completely lost control of myself.

When I finally stopped shouting, there was a tense silence. One of the neighbors came to calm me down and took me aside. At first, I refused to listen to anyone, but gradually, as I started catching my breath, I realized I had allowed my temper to take over.Tjat neighbor was that man's saviour, else!

Later that evening, I called a meeting with my brother and the landlord. I apologized for shouting but firmly maintained that what he did was unacceptable. I also made it clear that any issues should be discussed with me directly as the elder sibling. We agreed on some boundaries and ways to communicate better.

Looking back now, I know I could have handled it better. I learned that even when I’m angry, I should try to speak my mind calmly and assertively instead of shouting. But in that moment, I just couldn’t calm down.

It was a tough experience, but it taught me the importance of protecting loved ones and also the importance of controlling my temper.

Posted Using INLEO