Amruta Patel

<h4
 
 id="h-amruta-patel-is-a-student-at-the-london-school-of-hygiene-tropical-medicine-she-has-been-studying-marshall-rosenberg-s-nonviolent-communication-and-heartful-communication-for-the-last-several-months-here-she-describes-an-experience-volunteering-at-one-of-the-covid-19-vaccination-centers-in-london-where-she-was-able-to-apply-her-newfound-communication-skills-in-a-challenging-situation"
>
 AMRUTA PATEL
 is a student at the London School of Hygiene &amp; Tropical Medicine. She
 has been studying Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication and Heartful
 Communication for the last several months. Here, she describes an experience
 volunteering at one of the COVID-19 vaccination centers in London, where she
 was able to apply her newfound communication skills in a challenging
 situation.
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<h3 class="has-text-align-center">
 
 How Communication Changes Lives
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 I have been volunteering at the COVID-19 vaccine centers in London on some of
 my days off, and what an experience it has been! After a year of stunted
 conversations over Zoom and carefully extracting myself from situations with
 too many people, I found myself in a massive hall welcoming hundreds of
 strangers on their way to getting their jabs. It was overwhelming, exciting
 and sobering to be a part of this group effort to help combat the virus.



 During one of my shifts, I was working in the post-vaccine waiting area,
 checking on people to see if they were feeling well during their compulsory
 period of observation before they could leave. Everything seemed to be going
 well, and most people were largely positive about the experience, while some
 were still nervous about the vaccine and its effects. The mood was light and
 the vibrations happy, when suddenly a man marched into the room, anger and
 frustration rolling off his shoulders in palpable waves. He exclaimed, “I
 refuse to wait! I’ve waited 45 minutes already for this bloody jab,” as he
 rushed past the paramedics.



 I put my hand up and said, “Sir, please wait for a while so …” and was
 promptly knocked to the ground. I still don’t believe he meant to do it. I
 think I was just in the way, and my arm a bit too close to his frame. He moved
 with such force and energy that the momentum pushed me over. The only thing I
 felt in that moment was shock, as I turned and watched him stride out of the
 room. Not even a moment’s pause to apologize! But then I centered myself and
 thought, “Everything is all right. You are fine and no one was hurt.”



 When I told this story later, my family was upset at the aggression shown
 towards me. He could have stopped and helped, or at least said thank you to
 the people who took time out of their days to volunteer. But perhaps we should
 ask the question, “Why did he do it?”


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 I did not have to see this situation as right or wrong. I could feel
 compassion toward someone without letting their behavior or situation
 upset me or my mood.
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 From what I observed in the few moments I spent in his orbit, he was wearing
 paint-splattered clothes usually seen on contractors or workmen. In addition,
 the vaccination process was running a little late and appointments were
 delayed that day. Perhaps he had a job to get to, or perhaps his manager was
 phoning him to ask why he had not arrived for work yet. If he was paid by the
 hour, perhaps the delay was affecting his ability to make a steady income in
 an already-tough economic climate.



 I have no idea what was going through his head that day, but I have learned to
 look for the drivers behind someone else’s actions and words. In doing so, I
 could remove myself from the situation and empathize with his potential
 predicament. You would think that after eight hours on my feet I would have
 felt incensed and irritated by the whole event, but I left my shift that day
 feeling completely happy and fulfilled. I had contributed to something much
 bigger than him or myself and had thoroughly enjoyed doing so.



 I did not have to see this situation as right or wrong. I could feel
 compassion toward someone without letting their behavior or situation upset me
 or my mood. I cannot think of a more useful way of interacting with the
 complex and dynamic world that surrounds us today.


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Turn it around

Vanessa Patel: Vanessa is a Heartfulness practitioner, a Heartful Communication facilitator, and an
 editor of Heartfulness Magazine. She lives in Baroda, India, where she has worked with schools and educators to bring
 dynamic English language programs to children of all ages.

Amruta Patel: Amruta lives in London and works for the UK Ministry of Justice. She is a facilitator
 for Heartful Communication and a yoga practitioner, and spends her free time on long walks exploring London with
 friends. She is an avid reader of mysteries, as well as literature on public health and Greek mythology.

Ananya Patel: Ananya is a designer and illustrator who enjoys finding dynamic ways to tell stories.
 She works on projects with social impact, and runs a youth collective bringing innovative design approaches to climate
 action and gender equality.

Vanessa Patel, Amruta Patel & Ananya Patel