Extreme weather conditions catch you off guard, especially when you have errands to run. The day was similar. It was a freezing day, so she wore her jeans, a routine part of her life, and walked from the store to her car, freezing. It felt like a marathon! The woman hurried to get to the car, but the moment she reached it, she heard a scream.
The woman had parked her car in the handicapped parking lot, but it was not just because she was in a hurry. At first, the woman thought that the woman on the other side was trying to hype her up for doing things by herself or running errands in such cold weather, but it was different.
She was just another stranger, fair to say a Karen, who was screaming at her, claiming that her car was in the wrong parking spot. “You should be ashamed, she said. The woman tried ignoring her and decided to stay calm, as overreacting does not ever give you a hold of such situations; however, she kept shouting.
The woman repeatedly tried to tell her how she was disabled, but was accused. The woman crossed the line by threatening her to call the police or report against her. How could she possibly tell the woman that she was a double Amputee?
Just because she wore jeans because of the cold and to hide her disability, it did not mean she was using the parking space for her convenience. The woman was shocked at how quickly people judge others without knowing what they could be going through.
After trying to calm her down for a few minutes, the woman did something she was supposed to do when all this started. She took off one of her prosthetic legs, rolled down the car window, and held it out casually. This was the only way she could shut her up, as being polite and kind had always made her run over.
Left stuttered after insulting a stranger and accusing her of all the wrong reasons; all she said was Fine, whatever. This is a clear message for everyone: not all people park their cars for convenience and accessible parking, and not all scars are visible. Instantly judging someone you do not even know is not a great way to build positive relations and is harmful.
The people who always choose to remain silent under these conditions are meant to speak, so people do not walk over and insult you as they want. The other person should be sure of what is meant to be spoken.
