WHO, WHAT AND WASTE

CNN, which, as an airport employee, I am force-fed each work day, all day, actually aired a nice little piece about a little boy who had realized the wastefulness of drinking straws and had set about to rectify the situation. See the brief clip at this link:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2011/08/25/dnt-mo-anti-straw-campaign.cnn?iref=allsearch
Afterall, why should humanity turn so much natural resources into something as extraneous as one-use-disposable straws? Anyway, the piece interviewed him and he told about his research and the ideas he had in order to replace the ubiquitous disposable straw.
Here is the link to Milo's very worthwhile web site:
http://bestrawfree.org/Home.html
I made a comment about how refreshing it is to see a young boy so intelligent and proactive and willing to take up a cause no one else has done and to move forward with it.
Sadly, the old woman paying for her candy, diet soda and trash magazine bitterly responded by saying she wondered who had put him up to that. Who told him all that stuff and why bother to make a big deal of him on TV.
I was a bit stunned by her comment. I responded by saying, "Isn't it wonderful that such a brilliant little fellow had the gumption to begin such a project?"
She said, "Well, he couldn't have come up with any of that. Someone had to tell him all that stuff."
I said that he had done his research. She countered with well somebody had to tell him.
I said he was a brilliant little fellow who had the idea, then did his research, then came up with the plan.
She said that was impossible and that a little kid could not come up with any ideas but had to be told everything. (A classic she said /she said)
I said that brilliance is a gift and that it is accessible to anyone if they are willing to seek it and accept it and that it is possible for people to think for themselves, especially children.
And then I realized that what I was looking at in this old woman was the face of death. Entropy on two feet.
It was very sad.
That was a good time to say 'whatever,' give her her change and push her out the door. Well, of course I did not push her out the door. I simply turned to my next task.
I learn a little more each day about dealing with people. Some people apparently, choose to remain narrow-minded and ignorant. It is sad, but as I learn to discern this and profile who is who in society, I can point myself in directions that bless without wasting my efforts. When to engage and when not to engage is a time-saving lesson. Learning how to disengage is crucial, as is when to disengage. Saying nothing sometimes says it all.
Clearing one's energy field following negative encounters is important to one's well-being. Suggestions for ways to do that can be found in my HEALING THOUGHTS blog.
My comments to the brilliant young fellow doing this important work are 'Bravo! Keep up the great work!"