My friend and I were in Walmart today getting a few things for her house and my grandmother. A guy literally bumped into me causing all the items I was holding to come crashing out of my hand. We didn’t need much and I prefer to touch the least amount of things as possible so we didn’t grab a cart.
I apologized to him and said “I’m so sorry sir I didn’t see you” as I bent down to pick up my items. And it was true I didn’t see him and clearly he was in a rush however I was standing completely still and he wasn’t paying attention when he ran Into me. He motions to help me pick up the items but I told him he was fine and not to worry about it. Once I picked up all of my items I looked to my friend and think of the darkest shade of red and times that by ten. She was madder than ten hells. But we’ve been friends long enough for her to know it’s a big no to cause a scene or make one worse especially in public my anxiety would sky rocket.
Once the gentlemen was out of ear shot and we made it to a counter she looked at me and asked. “Why do you always do that?” To that I said “ Do what ?” “Always apologize when something isn’t your fault, he bumped into you and when you said sorry he told you it was fine, HE ran into YOU” I understand at the surface I should’ve been angry but I wasn’t it’s not how I’m wired I explained this to her. I’ve explained it to her many times and she still doesn’t agree with it. I could’ve snapped on him, could’ve been like what the hell dude watch were you are going. But instead I choose kindness it’s not always the easiest choice but it’s the one I choose. Who knows maybe he was having a bad day, maybe he was on his way to an important event, maybe something was wrong with a family member, maybe he was late for his flight?
You never know what someone else is going through, the first reaction is most likely wrong take a deep breathe and just think being kind cost you nothing but could have the biggest impact on someone or someone’s day.
I work at a hotel my job tittle “Front desk team lead” what I actually do “front desk team lead/ manger/housekeeping/ operations manger/ all the jobs no one else wants to do especially dealing with angry guest” my day to day job can be exhausting especially when I get called dumb or a bitch or both for things that are so beyond my control that I don’t know how to fix but I still try. It would be easy to go to manger and tell her off or the owner who I know and let him have it express how it’s not fair that I do everyone else’s job and only get one check. Life isn’t fair and sometimes that’s just how the cards fall. I do my job and I do it with a smile some days I leave on E sometimes I come in on fumes but I always smile and will always make the best of the worst situations.
Some call me a welcome Mat and that’s fine again it’s not what people say or do but how you choose to react. I don’t feel like one I feel like I choose kindness and for that I love me and that’s all that matters.
It’s easy to snap or “go off” it takes patience’s and strength to be kind.
Thinking out loud...
