Feeling Good Friday-Interaction with Nice People Edition
It's January 12th, 2018. Wow! Just three short weeks ago I was writing about the last of my Christmas prep, anticipating my son's next day arrival, and sadly, saying good bye to my friend. We're at the point in January where folks are no longer asking about the holidays and wishing each other a happy new year. Despite my tendency to still write 2017 as part of the date,probably until April, we are full on 2018. In recognizing how fast time seems to fly these days, I'm reflective of the time I have to spend with people that make my life so much better. Some, like a trusted coworker that you lose touch with after your ways part, are in our lives for a brief time, but appreciated all the same. Others, we've known for our whole lives or whole adult lives and share memories and life experiences together, that when they are no longer in our lives, the hole cannot be filled. Sometimes, I just have a good or happy experience with another soul, nothing profound, but leaves me feeling just brighter. Today in my feeling good Friday, I'm going to recap some of the last weeks interactions like these.
- Sunday we were giving a break from the below 0 temperatures that greeted the new year. Pup and I took full advantage and went for a long walk Sunday afternoon. We passed fellow walkers and people out in the park playing with their dogs. And... people actually were talking and engaging with each other.
- A new staff person started on Wednesday. So far, she is everything
we had hoped for and then some. She hit the ground running, readily
accepting two new projects that weren't even on my radar when we were
interviewing her. She seems personable, friendly, and eager to be part
of the team. Of course, one would think any new employee would start
with such eagerness, but that is not always the case.
- I
had to stop at the Ulta cosmetic store to replace the eyes shadow pot
that broke and created the huge mess last Saturday. If you have ever
been in an Ulta and are not a cosmetic shopper, the stores are
overwhelmingly big, with every brand, including their own, of cosmetics
you can imagine. I had quick help finding the one I needed to purchase.
At the register, another young women quickly checked me out, but also
let me sign my daughter up for future coupons and a birthday gift, which
since is Sunday, will be delivered in short order. I know customer
service is their job, but I appreciate when it is done well.
- I also stopped at the Dollar Tree to pick up assorted things like cosmetic wipes, baby wipes for the car, snacks for Saturday, and a few other assorted things including a small laundry basket. My hands were full with the basket. A young boy with his mom saw me while maneuvering to get my gloves back on and rushed over to open the door for me. He reminded me of my kids when they were young that always were ready to open and hold the door for people.
- While not a ton of snow as the worst missed us, I pulled into a driveway that was already cleared, including the end which seems to get blocked in again with snow when the plows come through. Thanks new neighbor.
Of course I had the interactions with people being less than nice like the person driving way to fast and dodging in and out of traffic on a slippery road and the person that was snippy with the Dollar Tree cashier for not being in place when she was ready to check out. I'm choosing to not let those interfere with the good moments. How about you? Did you have any seemingly insignificant moments this week but helped your week go a bit better?
Love this! I've been focused on trying to do one small deed a day that is helpful. It's been so fun, and helped me appreciate how good it feels to be on the other side. So far, I picked up trash on my walk to the elementary school, ran over & held the door for a coworker who was juggling a bunch of stuff, re-arranged & decluttered a common area at work, etc. Nothing big, but it just feels good.
ReplyDeleteMy manager approved a remote work situation for a few days in June, saving me from having to fly back & forth twice in a two week period. She's generally opposed to remote work, so this was a huge gift, and a kindness that I very much appreciated.
I need to step up my good deeds. It's not about counting how good I am but appreciation for others.I like your response.
DeleteEnjoyed this post. I've been thinking a lot about having a positive attitude this week as sometimes impatience gets the better of me. I played volleyball with a man on Tuesday who was so positive and always giving the "fist bump" to people even when they missed the ball - he really made a difference to people's enjoyment of the game. I've taken a page from him and I was much more positive and encouraging to my teammates yesterday. We had SO MUCH FUN!! Lesson learned!
ReplyDeleteAnd even amateur sports can be so competitive. That guy had right attitude.
DeleteIt is wonderful to run into kind /positive people and it really is contagious. It takes as much effort to be kind as it does to be a jerk, so I try to always be kind. Doesn't mean I always succeed but it is my aim. (It does not help that I have a "resting bitch face" and often people assume my neutral face is angry, which it is not)
ReplyDeleteAnne-I'm sure you don't come across anything but gracious.True about the time it takes.
DeleteI so need positive kind people as mom is not always so..... I try to be that person whenever I can. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteBeing a caregiver is tough stuff. You have to look for positives everywhere.
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