Happy Spring... Well, kind of. The weather here in Rochester today isn't exactly "spring-y..." I hope all of you are having an absolutely wonderful year so far, and enjoying life :) I haven't posted in a while, because we're so busy with finishing up this semester, and planning our move back to PA next month. But, something that happened the other day when I was at Target, really has had me thinking about the world we live in, in general for a good 48 hours straight.
I recently started reading a book called, "The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are," by Brené Brown. I would recommend it to absolutely anyone out there. It's an amazing read so far, and has helped me in so many ways from within my own mind, day to day life, to things within my own family. Between that book, which has made me more aware of my own actions, and not paying attention to what the world thinks I should be, a particular class I'm taking this semester that makes me think every day, and of course my therapist... I've really been trying to pay more attention to the way I live my daily life. Now, I'm not talking about just eating healthy or making sure I give out 150 hand written compliments to people around me every single day. It isn't that at all. It's making sure I am being the best person that I can be, not only to myself but to and for those around me. We live in such a cruel world, where not enough people take the time to think before they lash out on another person, for simply cutting them in line at the grocery store or whatever it may be that sets them off.
Since my little epiphany I've had, and my unrelenting attempts to simply be a better person, like I said... I've been much more aware of everything in my life. It all starts with me. If I wake up in the morning, and start telling myself how horrible the day is going to be, I'm probably going to have a really crappy day. If I wake up, smack a smile on my face and just keep pushing myself to be cheerful to people, then I end up having a pretty decent day. It really does all begin within ourselves. When little things happen when I'm out and about, like someone cutting me in line, or just simply being rude, I just smile and ignore, now. Sometimes it's a lot harder to do than other times, but afterwards, it's like, "Wow. Imagine if I had blown up about that, and snapped at the person... It immediately would have stressed me out, and put me in a bad mood, that I would end up taking out on my husband and dog, and probably anyone else I came in contact with for that day." So, it's a win in the end. There's too many rude people out there, to be rude back and just keep on spreading the... well, crabbiness.
What happened at Target the other day, wasn't a situation that anyone was being rude, though. I was next in line, and I had all of my groceries up on the belt, just standing there waiting. An older gentleman was in front of me, probably in his 70's and had just finished checking out when he realized the computer didn't adjust the price on something properly. He brought it to the cashiers attention, and the cashier asked if I minded if he took care of that before he rung me out. I smiled and said I didn't mind, I wasn't in a hurry, and that it was no big deal at all. The old man thanked me about three times in a row. When he was almost done checking out, his wife approached the register and had a pair of panty hose in her hands before realizing her husband was almost done. She started to get behind me in line. I immediately asked her what she was doing, and said that her and her husband were already in front of me, and not to worry about it because even if I was in a bit of a rush, it was nothing for me to get mad over. She honestly looked stunned. She proceeded to thank me over and over again, ask me if I was SURE that they could finish up before me, and told me how sweet it was of me to let them go. I smiled and told them to have a great day when they left, and they thanked me, yet again. I was floored at the number of times I was thanked within a 4 minute exchange.
There's two ways to look at this. Are we in a world where people are that appreciative of something so small because of how many people are complete jerks about the little stuff like that? Or was it shocking to me that someone appreciated that gesture, because most of us aren't used to getting thanked like that, for something so little?
Never hesitate to show appreciation for anything, no matter how trivial it may be. Someone may hold a door or tell you to go in front of them, but a thank you is always appreciated. (Never hesitate to be the one to hold that door or let someone go ahead of you, either...)
Whichever way you choose to take this, it hopefully still makes you think and makes you more self-aware of your own actions and responses in certain situations. There is certainly nothing wrong with saying thank you, as it should always be said. Go the extra mile, and be extra kind to those around you. You may turn a day around.
A simple thank you, as a token of appreciation goes such a long way. Holding back your huffs and puffs and crappy attitude no matter how bad your day is going, goes a long way, too. Being kind, is probably going to make you feel at least a LITTLE better, anyways :).
Spread the kindness, and verbalize the thank you when someone does something for you.
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