personal-space

PersonalspaceWecarrywithusasenseofourownpersonalspace,azoneweunconsciouslyprotectwhereverweare.Personalspaceincludesthepsychologicalspace,invisibly,andspecificphysicalareasthatextendbeyondourinvisiblespacelike“mydesk”orjust“mymobilephone”.Asmanyofusdo,peoplenaturallyhavetheirphonelockedforsakeofsecurityofinformation.Butwhenthesameproblemcomestome,itseemsalittledifferent.Ithappensthatoneofmyclassmatesoncetookmymobileandchattedwithmyfriendsonlinewithoutlettingmeknowthat.Theyevenplayedtricksoneachotherwhichmademefeelveryuncomfortableandfeelthatmyprivacywasoffended.Maybeshedidn’tfeelitabigproblembutitreallymademeunhappy.AndsincethenIsetapasswordonmyphone.Actually,Idon’tliketokeepmybelongingslocked.Buttherealityforcedmetodoso.What’smore,InevertalkwithheraboutthatforIthinkitissomethingthateveryoneinstinctivelyknowsbecauseeveryonehassomethingthatbelongstohimorheronly.MaybeIcouldhavedealtwiththeproblemabetterway,talkingwithhertomakeherknowthatIdocareaboutwhatshehaddoneandshe’dpayattentioninordernottomakethesamemistakeagain.Butobviously,Ifailed.Frommypointofview,Ithinkpersonalspaceisnecessaryandvaluableforusall,foritcanmakeushavetimeandroomtoenjoyourselves.Andoncethepersonalspaceisinvaded,consciouslyorunconsciously,weshouldn’tletitbeandjustdonothingforhelp,justbeingquietlywithoutlettingtheoffenderknowheorshehasdonesomethinginappropriately.MaybeIhaveoverstatedtheproblemalittleabitbecausesomepeoplemaythinkthatiftheproblemisnotthatseriouswecanjustletitgo.Moreoftenthannot,harmonyneedssilence,compromiseorconcessiontomaintain.Ofcoursethereisalwaysanotherwaytogettheproblemfixed.Butwhatiftheinvasionismadeasecondorathirdtime?Shouldwestillkeepsilentandleavethespaceonlyforourselvesnarrowerandnarrower?Wehavetheansweralready.OnemorethingthatIwanttostress:treatothersthewayyouliketobetreated,thatis,mutualrespect:respectothers’personalspace,andsowillours.