The day before yesterday, I participated in an auction. I won and bought six rugs, and few other items among which, there were three early 20th century antique Chinese and Japanese paintings. After the auction was over, I picked up the rugs and other items. I went to pick up the paintings yesterday. The very nice lady who was in charge made a mistake and due to confusion in the bar codes, she was giving me four antiques paintings. The five percent bad part of me had a quick discussion with the 95 percent good part of me. The bad part told the good part just keep quite; get all four paintings. It is tough these days; make some money. This auction house is rich. They don’t understand what happened. And even if they do, mistakes are made. Who cares? Out of hundred of items, would they realize that one piece would be missing? And even if they do, would they realize who picked that up? Now way!
The good part of me (I guess the 95%) could not keep quit and could not see this wonderful helpful lady be held responsible for the missing antique Japanese painting. I said to the lady that I should be picking up three and not four paintings. She said OK; these paintings were not labeled properly. That is why this confusion happened. The bad part of me told the good part of me: did you see this lady did not get excited and did not appreciate your honesty? Occasions like this happen rarely. Why didn’t you idiot take advantage of this? Are you Jesus Christ? The good part who thought it had done the right thing, did not answer!
Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085
I believe you did the right thing because every time you looked at the four painting you would feel bad and guilty.
I once was at a small cafe in Vancouver, BC and the clerk gave me back $10 more in change. I sat through my meal debating on whether or not to keep the $10.
Since I didn't frequent the cafe it would be very easy be up $10, but I decided to give the money back because I didn't trust Karma to not bite me back.
My weekend in Vancouver was so amazing I didn't want to ruin it by having something bad happen because I decided to keep a mere $10.
Plus if you made a similar mistake you would hope that the person would be honest as well.
The world becomes a better place when we do the right and honest thing.
Thank you Mary for your comment. You're absolutely right. Besides, what we do becomes an inseparable part of our character and behavior and even if we want, we cannot get rid of it.
Thanks again.