Today I was presented with an opportunity to be an agent of good karma. A colleague needed a favor, he needed to change schedule with me to suit his timetable for next month's leave. It is quite a task to schedule vacation leaves in the office as they are decided by a raffle draw. On top of that, the days off are never the same each week. We are given a roster every month, our schedule, time in and off day.
Apparently, my off day on the second week of January is all that my colleague needs to be able to go back home to our country. Yes, he's my compatriot from The Philippines. And if you have ever been out of your own country, you tend to feel for people who have the slightest connection to you, like sharing the same country. You tend to relate to them, as if you are family.
So it came as a surprise that I actually refused the swap. Not without a heavy heart, but I still refused. My remorse doesn't clear my conscience, I'm still bothered. I know that someday, I may be the one in need and the roles might be reversed. I don't know what the deciding factor was, probably the idea of working 6 days straight, or the fact that I'd be losing a long weekend.Whatever it was, it does not change the fact that I could have made one person happy. I did not. I do not know how i can look him in the eye when we pass each other by the corridor. He did say it was ok though, yet still the guilt I am feeling right now warranted a post.
I should say no more often. So I can get used to letting people down.
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