Judge Not

I have always had one of those trusting faces. Anytime I venture out, especially on public transportation, I oftentimes attract lonely people wanting an ear to listen to them. Depending on my mood, I choose to either ignore them or humor them. Sometimes, the person is creepy or clingy and I quickly retreat. Today, I listened.

A young girl struck up a conversation with me at the light rail as I waited for the train. My final was scheduled for 12:15 and I was just ready to get it out of the way. I have been in a rather serene mood since finding out I would be starting graduate school in the fall. I decided I would talk to this young lady. We made small talk about the train and how it was raining. She tells me she is pregnant and will be taking tests to see if her baby is healthy. She tells me she is 17 years-old, so I am not quick to congratulate her. She's having a little girl and has already picked out a name.

We get off at the same stop and we continue to walk in the same direction. She thanks me for talking to her. I start to feel a little sad and I am not sure why. Then for some reason she confides in me that she can't stop smoking, thinking that switching to light cigarettes will have no harmful effects on her baby. I couldn't go without responding and told her she should stop for the health of her baby. "My mom smoked while she was pregnant with me and I turned out fine," she said. She then got on her connecting train toward the hospital.

I am still disturbed by my conversation with her, and wonder why she chose to tell me of her bad habit. Once I am an OT I am sure to hear worse things and I hope that I will be able to reach them without judgement.