The other day I kept seeing the same woman and her husband aisle after aisle in Wal-Mart. Did you ever notice how that happens? Of course it makes sense because you’re both just going about your business and you keep following each other.
What made this interesting was that one of us seemed to always be in the way. “Excuse me. I need to reach over you,” or “I’m sorry were you trying to get here?”
It was funny because I skipped a few aisles (didn’t need greeting cards or party supplies) and there they were! Right where I needed to go for tissues and paper towels!
We had a good laugh!
After I cashed out I was off to Stop and Shop for my produce and meat.
I was making good time for a midday Saturday even though the stores were busy.
I made it all the way through the store and went to get in line at the check out counter when I saw the same couple!
I said, “I’ve never known it to transfer from one store to another but here we are! I’m going home next so have a good weekend.”
We had a good laugh but then I realized that she seemed a little bit surprised. I THINK she was surprised because, here I was, a stranger who was actually talking and joking with her.
My daughter Sarah and I have had many conversations about how the southerners seem to be so friendly but she remembers the people up north being a bit more reserved.
Sarah can’t just run into a Dunkin’ Donuts (I’m sorry, a Dunkin’) and get a quick coffee. She’s always greeted with a “Good morning! How are you doing today? What can I get for you? Oh thats a nice scarf.” She says back in Cambridge she would order, throw some money on the counter and maybe get a “Thank you.” It’s not that they were being rude, we just don’t act too friendly, especially before we have our coffee.
Also that day I had a carriage full of food and three cases of water. (I still have a teenager at home and hey, he doesn’t drink soda or sugary juices, so drink up.) A lady came up behind me with one item, a fruit tray. The line at the Express Lane was huge so I said, “If you’d like to go in front of me, go ahead.” She looked amazed like I had just given her the winning Mega Millions ticket.
And it didn’t stop there! The woman in front of me who already had her items on the belt said she could go in front of her!
The lady with one item was beside herself! She was so thankful!
And what did we do? A simple act of kindness that had made that woman’s day. It made me feel pretty good too.
Why are those moments seen as so unusual? Probably because it’s such a scary world that we see on the news.
“Why are you talking to me? I don’t know you! You probably want something from me. ”
No. I’m fine. Just trying to navigate myself through this thing they call life.
I realize we all get busy. Sometimes we’re dealing with some really tough issues, or we’re tired or maybe even sick. It’s times like these when we could use a smile or a nice gesture.
I think what I’m trying to say is, how about if we take the word “Random” out of “Random Acts of Kindness.” It really doesn’t take much effort.
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