Everybody, Calm Down.11/10/2021 Ever wonder why it’s so easy to see the bad stuff first? To be quick to get angry, or impatient? Negative thinking -- it’s a slippery slope. There are a few things that I’ve learned to be true for most people:
I had a conversation recently with a store clerk that was the inspiration for this blog and the above three things I stated. I had gone into Gordon Food Service to buy candy and chips to pass out on Halloween. I was bummed when the items I wanted to purchase were all out of stock, but managed to find other options. When I went to check out, the cashier asked if I had found everything I needed. I answered honestly. “No,” I sighed. “But that’s okay, I found some other stuff that’ll work just as well. You guys were wiped out! But it’s all good.” She smiled apologetically and replied, “You seem a bit like me. You just let stuff go and roll with it.” I grinned, “Yeah, I try to. People get too upset over silly things.” She agreed, “Oh, I know! I get yelled at by customers all the time! As if it’s my fault they can’t purchase a particular item, or that I can somehow fix it. I don’t want to come to work and get yelled at every day.” I shook my head. “People have gotten a little crazy during this pandemic.” I felt like somehow I needed to apologize to her for all the crappy people she’s had to deal with. After all, she’s just trying to make a living and pay her bills, just the same as me. So here’s my PSA for today in relation to the three numbered things above: Calm down. Really. Just take a deep breath, and try to be patient and respectful. I’m sorry that you waited in line for 45 minutes in the McDonald’s drive-thru, but the two 18-year old kids working the entire restaurant, taking your order and making your food are working just as fast as they can. They didn’t sign up to be bullied or yelled at while they stand on their feet for six hours flipping burgers and making french fries. Instead, be thankful the place actually had staff come in to work so they could be open, so you could get your french fry fix. Or, leave and go somewhere else. Don’t take it out on the person trying to help you. Try being thankful for what you DO have, versus what you don’t have, and put your energy to that. I guarantee, it will bring much more peace and happiness in your life. Trust me. Appreciate the good qualities about yourself, your daily life, your family and friends, and everything you have, versus everything you don’t have or don’t want. We all slip into that negative complaining mindset, but the important thing is to do a quick reset and pull yourself out of it. When a negative thought enters your mind, cancel it and replace it with something you can be happy about, thankful for, or something or someone that makes you smile or feel good. “Living your best life” doesn’t mean you have the best of everything… it means you appreciate and make the best of everything you have. Let’s spread some smiles and pay it forward with some good vibes, eh? Happy THANKS GIVING, all! (intentional caps). Please click the FB Like if you enjoyed this post! Shares appreciated!
2 Comments
Tiny Perfect Things.3/7/2021 Personally, it’s been a rough week. Hell, as some of you may know, it’s been a rough month/5 weeks. Dark February brings up not-so-pleasant memories of 2020 and 2018, and throw in some other junk from this past week, and you have a cocktail of mad sadness and anxiety for Jules. But. (insert intentional period for pro-longed pause for the reader...) But, life is really made up of SO many moments. Most of them are actually lovely small moments. Sure, there’s the big, momentous occasions -- a wedding, graduation, birth, promotion, etcetera. But, those are sporadic throughout your life. What really makes up our lives -- our happiness, our sorrows, are all the tiny moments. The big hug from my kid when he walks in the door. The good morning or good night text from one of my favorite people. My friend tagging me in a funny meme. Enjoying a cup of coffee with a neighbor. Watching WandaVision virtually with my friend across the country. Sitting by a bonfire with my kids. Getting a pedicure. Reading a good book. Girl talk over cocktails and cream puffs. Seeing my daughters names on the Dean's List from college. Walking at the park with an old friend. Those seconds, minutes, hours, and days often seem to pass uneventfully… but THOSE are the moments that make up the sum of our life, what we represent, how we’ve lived, and who we’ve loved. Today, I was reflecting on just that. I had a rough 8 days. But, during those 8 days, I had some dear friends check in on me. They messaged. They popped into my office. They sent me a good morning text. Different friends, from different areas of my life. And, it struck me today, how much I truly cherish and love all of these individuals. They may not realize what a profound impact they have in my life, but profound it truly is. They see and share my struggles. They offer condolences, advice, love, silly memes, jokes, or drinks. They pull me through these tough moments, and they CELEBRATE my victories with me. These connections and friendships - whether they are people I see every day at work, people I see once a month, or people I almost NEVER see due to distance or other circumstance, they are the true treasures and measure of my life: My kids. My co-workers. My long-time friends and my newer friends. These moments and conversations, and most importantly, the unwavering support and love that I feel and receive from these people (even if not always said) are priceless. I will gladly spend this world's most precious commodity -- time -- with each of you. Thank you for being a part of my life. “It’s true that we’re losing time every day, all the time, until the day it’s all gone. But you’re gaining it too. Every second - perfect moments. One after the other, until by the end, you have your whole life. You have everything. And it costs you everything.” AuthorJulie Cassar, Best Selling Archives
September 2023
Categories
All
|