Yesterday I went to Wal*Mart. ("Wow, Elizabeth. I can already tell this is going to be a super interesting post! Glad I took the time to read it.") Have had my share of awful retail experiences (both as a customer and employee) and one of them involves the standing-in-lines-thing. People really, really hate to wait in lines. And the longer they stand, the meaner they get. On an impulse yesterday, I asked the woman behind me, who only had a couple things in her hands if she wanted to go in front of me.
It's not the fact that she accepted it the offer that threw me. It's how completely shocked she was that I offered. "Wow, that's so nice," she said. "Nice is rare."
Okay, the point of this post is NOT what a great person I am for letting someone else cut me in line. Because, I am ashamed to say, I am more often than not the cranky girl in line who doesn't want anyone to think they can push me around.
I have rights, I think.
I'm in a hurry.
But then yesterday, a totally impulsive act made a complete stranger smile. I mean
really, really smile. She grinned through her entire transaction and then thanked me again on her way out. And I was really humbled because I realized
it is so easy to make someone's day and it's even easier to ruin it.
And I thought about how many opportunities I've had to make someone's day great...how many times have I passed that up? How many times have I been short with a waiter or testy with a cashier or cut someone off in traffic? I can't even count.
On the other hand, I have these lovely little stories about this-one-time-i-bought-a-newspaper-from-a-homeless-man or how-i-let-some-stranger-cut-me-in-line. I can remember those stories. Why? Because they're remarkable.
Here's the thing, though. I don't want my kindness to be remarkable. It should be everyday, average, ordinary, run-of-the-mill. I want kindness to be my trademark.
So that's my Wednesday challenge to myself. I'm going to be looking for chances to make someone's day! What about you? What are you challenging yourself to do this week?
love, elizabeth
PS: Countdown continues...only SIX more posts until the giveaway!! It's another hand-picked gift...maybe I'll start giving clues...
