People often claim that young people today are rude, lazy, and selfishthat we dont respect our elders and only think of ourselves. But recently, I learned something important: sometimes, its better to respect yourself rather than give in to others complaints, especially when they start taking advantage of your kindness.
Id just finished a gruelling university term, exhausted from back-to-back exams, and all I wanted was to catch up on sleep during the train ride home. Id deliberately booked a lower berth so I wouldnt have to struggle with climbing up to the top bunk. I settled in, already drifting off, when a woman in her forties boarded with a boy no older than seven.
She looked worn out but determined. As she unpacked, it became clear theyd only been assigned upper bunks. She sat across from me and immediately launched into how difficult her life washer bad back, her restless son, and how impossible it would be to manage up top. Then she asked me to swap places with her.
I felt sorry for her. A mother with a child, and back pain toohow could I say no? So I climbed up to the top bunk and tried to sleep. But that wasnt happening.
The boy sprawled across the lower berth, kicking the mattress and metal frame, making the whole thing shake. Worse, he hummed some annoying tune from a video game and chattered nonstop. At first, I gritted my teeth. Then, mustering patience, I asked the woman to quiet him down.
Dont be dramatic, she snapped, sighing. Hes just a child!
But the boy only got louderrunning up and down the carriage, blasting cartoons on his phone, laughing, jumping. Sleep was out of the question.
Thats when I decided Id had enough. I climbed down and found the train conductor. Calmly, without raising my voice, I explained that my ticket was for the lower berth, Id given it up willingly, but now I couldnt rest because the woman refused to control her child.
The conductor checked the tickets, gave the woman a firm look, and said, Madam, your seat is on the upper bunk. Please return to your assigned space.
She argued, but he stood his ground. Finally, with a resigned sigh, she climbed up, taking the boy with her, and I settled back into my own berth.
For the first time in days, I slept deeplywithout guilt, without pity.
That day, I learned a valuable lesson: never sacrifice your own peace for those who dont respect it. Kindness shouldnt mean letting others walk all over you.
