The internet has no shortage of discussions about toxic behaviors. We hear about toxic positivity, toxic masculinity, and today, a simple elevator incident made me stop and wonder: Am I toxic?
Here’s the scoop: I was en route to my very first acupuncture appointment (exciting, right?), and, of course, I was running late. Despite my best efforts at planning (checked the travel time the night before—didn’t account for the random accident, typical), I found myself about three minutes behind. Not terrible, but not great for a punctuality nerd like me.
So, as I rushed into the building and made a beeline for the elevator, I saw someone else heading towards it too. My first instinct? Hit that close button before he makes it. Yeah, not my proudest moment—I’m a work in progress, okay!
But what did I do instead? I leaned out and called, “You coming?” Now, my tone could've been friendlier; it probably sounded more like a grumpy troll guarding a bridge rather than an invite. The guy, lost in his la-la land, looked up, catches my less-than-welcoming vibe and as luck would have it, another elevator dings open, and he's like, "Nope, I'll take the this one."
As the doors closed and I ascended alone, it hit me—my tone could definitely use some work. It was a minor interaction, but it left me wondering: in our hustle-bustle world, am I contributing to the toxicity?
Maybe it's the entrepreneurial spirit in me, always analyzing for efficiency and improvement, or maybe I'm just hoping to be a little better today than I was yesterday. Either way, I'm putting it out there—not just to own up to my less-than-stellar moments but to remind myself (and all of us) that growth is a continuous journey. We're all works in progress, and every interaction, no matter how small, is a chance to practice being the best versions of ourselves.
So, here’s to being less of a bridge troll and more of a bridge builder. Who’s with me?
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