checkout line

Yesterday I was at the store with my little girl while the oldest was a preschool. I tell you this because that means I was more relaxed. Otherwise I'm sure this incident wouldn't have happened. At the checkout I found my checker to be very grumpy. She was just radiating hate. I have been a checker and I know that sometimes it can get boring but "Wow" this girl was upset about her lot in life. My first reaction, I am sorry to say, was just to try and get out of there as soon as possible. I was starting to feel angry to. I started to feel mad at her for being huffy and making my morning bad. Then something changed for me and I had a new thought. . . "What if I stoped reflecting her emotion back and gave her a new one?" I started talking to her and asked her about her work and if she had to work "Black Friday." I tried to show her sympathy and kindness. By the end of our short conversation she was laughing a little bit and said a courteous "good-bye" to me. It was amazing. I walked away feeling that, even though I would probable be at home the rest of the day with my kids, I had at least put something good out in the world that day.

Say it.

Sometime last year I decided to never suppress a complement. Whenever I see someone in the store or church or somewhere and I think a nice thing about them I force myself out of my "comfort zone" and say it. Sometimes they are just random things like: "Your hair is so beautiful." "I like your bag." "What a nice shirt." But sometimes its a "Thank you" for something they said or did. It has really changed me. Try it for a week. Simple tell everyone you see the nice things you're thinking about them. It does no good if you keep those things to yourself. However, do keep it to yourself if you think something mean. :) Never suppress a complement. Share it and the world will be the better for it.

H1N1

I am just as scared of H1N1 as any other Mother but I don't think I am going to get the shot this year. I always make sure my whole family gets their flu shots each year but this year I just don't know. I'm worried about whats been said about the vaccinations being developed to fast. What do you think?