“Patience is not the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.”
During my weekly grocery shopping I decided to go to the checkout aisle with the humans running it instead of the barcode scanning self-checkout.
As a retired librarian I will admit that I love a barcode scanner as much as the next person but I also miss the interaction with people that a good old fashioned check out line provides.
So this week I steered my cart into the “human” lane.
While waiting in line, with two people ahead of me, there was a mixup resulting in a computer “error” and management had to be called to assist.
I will admit that my first thought was, “Great…just my luck to get in the slow line…”
But then I reminded myself that life is very consistent when it comes to encountering situations where you are not in control of what is happening to you.
So I took the opportunity to take a few deep breaths and observe my surroundings.
The two ladies ahead of me in the line had two different reactions to the situation. One was angry and wasn’t afraid to show her displeasure while the other waited patiently, with a small smile on her face.
If you stop to think about it, in the scheme of things, the inconvenience of waiting five extra minutes really isn’t that big of a deal. Unfortunately, our society today tends to react more often with anger and rudeness instead of patience and kindness…
So I tried to put myself in the clerk’s shoes - how would I want to be treated in this situation?
Having worked as a teacher and librarian for many years, I learned the art of compromise and compassion…it’s just part of the job when you are working with the public.
So when my turn finally arrived to be checked out, I made sure to extend the “golden rule” and I spoke to both the clerk and the bagger of my groceries with the respect they deserved.
“I hope you come back and shop here again soon,” the clerk said as she handed me my receipt.
“Thanks…you’re doing a great job. I should know…I come here every week and see it!” I replied.
She smiled and thanked me…and you know what? I felt good making someone else feel good…
That’s the reality…doing good unto others actually ends up doing more good for you…
What do you think?
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Tranquil Moments…
I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here is this week’s:
Poetry that Inspires
April is National Poetry Month and in celebration I want to share poems that inspire me - Here’s this week’s poem:
Children’s Corner
Back in 1999, when I was an elementary school librarian, I started a project where I wrote letters (old fashioned, printed letters) to a variety of famous people. This was prior to the daily use of email and text messages. My questions were simple…
1) From your own life experiences, how has reading affected your life in a positive manner?
2) Was there any particular person or experience in your life that made you aware of the value of literature and the importance of reading?
I am going to share these letters and let you experience the joy many of my students (and myself) have gotten from their touching words - Here is this week’s:
This week’s Smile video…
A lot of kids in America want to run a lemonade stand, but not many feel like they have to. Steve Hartman goes "On the Road" to Alabama, where 7-year-old Emouree Johnson started her business after an unthinkable tragedy a few weeks ago.
#believe #smilevideos #spreadkindnessandlove
Mind/Body Connections…
This short guided 15 minute meditation for strength and grounding will help relieve anxiety and will help you develop mindfulness and compassion for yourself and others. Loving Kindness Meditation is proven to relieve anxiety and stress and to increase feelings of wellbeing.
This week’s TED Talk
“Being a psychologist studying empathy today is a little bit like being a climatologist studying the polar ice caps,” says psychology professor Jamil Zaki. That’s because according to research, our collective empathy is eroding. But there is good news: Empathy is a skill, it can be built, and he explains how he — and others — are doing just that.
Comedy Lift…
I love to share funny cartoons or memes with friends and family. Who doesn’t need to smile? Here’s this week’s Comedy Lift…
Music Moments
Music inspires me in many ways. Here’s one of my favorites, Paul McCartney and James Corden doing carpool karaoke...Enjoy!
Quote of the week
Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….