I realised that that shitty situation really did teach me something after all. I don't know if all bad experiences teach us something - there's still one or two I can't make sense of - but this one did. 

It taught me that there are people who just like to make noise. People who, instead of doing the logical or most effective thing, instead set out to create as much noise and drama as they can - even if it's counterproductive and meaningless. These are people who believe they are the main characters, the most important and most interesting ones; perhaps they also believe that if enough people give them attention and sympathy, the situation will turn out in their favour. They do not tend to be intelligent or self-aware human beings. 

It took me some time to understand this. My family is logical; I grew up with intelligent humans. I was not exposed to this kind of insanity. 

Even seeing this behaviour in patients didn't help me understand. I was always confused, always asking colleagues and family 'why would they...'. Never got a satisfactory answer. 

So that shitty situation taught me a good lesson. Somewhat on a side note, this was only possible when I focused on forgiveness (cringe) instead of vengeance. Because forgiveness is only possible when you try to understand; and when I (finally) tried to see things from their perspective, I realised how small their focus was, how trapped they must have felt, how little love they must have had for each other, to react in this manner. I realised they were pathetic, and then felt sorry for them. 

So today when Balding Petty Man did a balding, petty thing. For a moment I didn't know how to react, because why-? Why would he? And what should I do? 

There were a lot of things I wanted to do. But for some reason I remembered forgiveness. That forgiveness requires understanding. I realised how insecure he must be, how shriveled his dick. And I knew what I had to do.