- Katherine Hepburn -
It was beyond midnight and I had trouble falling asleep last night. Since AJ was still awake studying downstairs, I laid down with my thoughts and BlackBerry to reflect on the day...see below:
Do you ever have one of those days when you feel like giving up on people? Simple and quite regular occurrences: You've listened to a mom arguing on the phone while her kids terrorize a store, watched a man breeze through a door only to let it shut on the people with their hands full right behind him or hear a person tell their waitress how awful their experiences have been in the restaurant and how this is just like every other time...just one of those days that really seems more like a compilation of weeks of people neglecting each other.
Its likely that I am one of those people from time to time too. I admit that I am not an angel. Yet lately I have been trying to make a conscious effort to not only observe the people around me but to also recognize how I am acting towards other people as well. Small changes and actions (in theory) should make an impact right?
Today: I went grocery shopping on my own which always turns into a very long exploration since I am so easily distracted. I finally finish shopping to find that two lines are open: The Express Line (yeah...like I ever have less than 10 items when food is involved) and a Regular line. So it was off to the regular line for me and my stack of groceries. Unfortunately for the Express line folks...that line was just as long as the regular. I begin the process of unloading the food onto the conveyor belt (realizing that the saying is right: shopping while hungry is a poor idea) when I catch a glimpse of a woman holding just two bags of chips. Not an unusual sight but here's what caught my eye: She was not glaring at me or the woman in front of me who had apparently gone shopping on an empty stomach too - she was simply standing there with a slight smile and pleasant demeanor (This is extremely rare in a grocery store on a Sunday). My admiration for her patience led me to offer her my spot in line so she could be on her way. She seemed genuinely surprised and initially declined but accepted after I insisted that she go ahead. It was simple. I did nothing memorable but the interaction left me feeling a twinge of hope that maybe little things we do (even the smallest) can matter.
The day proceeds as normal...tv watching, exercising, dog baths, etc and eventually we come to dinner time. Now here is the part where I ask you not to judge me and the part where I know you won't because we've ALL done it...we went out to grab dinner...even after the grocery trip. Its inevitable isn't it? Of course. So we head to what I lovingly call "The Corner of Goodness". The Corner of Goodness needs very little explanation (Chipotle, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Subway, Panda Express...the list goes on).
When it comes to this particular corner, AJ and I almost always go our separate ways. Elyse to Chipotle and AJ to Panda. Ugh..don't get me started on Panda. I walk in and get in line behind an employee that I've seen there many times before (yes...I go there THAT often) who appeared to be heading home with some food for the night. While she was being helped by the woman behind the counter a young man approaches to assist me. I order a burrito (justified in my mind by the treadmill time I clocked earlier in the day) and proceed to make it deliciously pricey (steak and guacamole...yumm).
Ordering complete and literally drooling over the idea of my 1,300 calorie burrito I stand watching the same young man ring up my food. He completes the register transaction with no money in hand and then looks at me with a sweet smile and says "Alright you're all set".
Huh?! Insert the same face I make when AJ tries to explain accounting lingo to me. An adorable combo: half confusion and half smile (to hopefully at least look cute while looking lost).
My response to him was "Wait what? Are you sure?". To which he gave me another sweet smile and said "Yep, you're all set. Have a great night". He then jotted a quick note that I didn't get a chance to see fully on the receipt for my order and continued on working.
I said thank you and walked back to the car where AJ's stale Chinese was waiting to greet me and climbed in smiling but still a little confused. As I relayed the story to AJ it hit me - an unexpected act of kindness! Did the employee in front of me in line pay? Did the employee behind the counter just decide to do something sweet? Was I the 100th person to order a burrito that day so it was free? Who knows.
Here's what I do know: It made me smile. It surprised me. It restored my faith in other people believing in random acts of kindness. I am confident that what we do small or large, today or tomorrow will impact the people around us. We may not realize it and we may never get to see the results ... but one thoughtful act will likely always leave an impression on someones day.
Chipotle Burrito: 0 dollars...
Realizing kindness still lives in unexpected places: Priceless.
Elyse
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