Looking for Common Courtesy

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There were 5 people ahead of me in the customer service line, and several behind me.  I was starting to second guess those high-heeled boots I hadn’t worn in ages…

That’s when she walked up to the counter, seemingly oblivious to the line of others who had been waiting.

I’m sure she was in a hurry.  But then, there were probably others in the line who had places they had to be.  Myself, I just wanted to return my item and get the groceries done so I could go home and take off those boots…

What I couldn’t understand is why she thought she was so important that she didn’t need to wait in line.

As a new employee entered the customer service area and proceeded to deal with this customer, the lady behind me in line and I started to talk.  “It’s a whole new world,” she commented.  “One where it’s always me, me, me…”

 

Sadly, I have to agree with her.  And it seems to get worse this time of year.  People rushing, trying to get their shopping done…  More cars trying to get through the yellow lights instead of stopping.   Unkind gestures as cars zoom around each other.  Shorter tempers at the checkout line.

At a time of year when we should be striving to help one another…where we sing songs of good will and peace, we have lost sight of what it all means.

I don’t want to be one of those people.

So, even though my feet were definitely NOT happy when I finally got to the front of the line, I smiled at the employee behind the counter when it was my turn.  And I made sure to wish him a good day before I left.

And when I noticed an elderly lady who had just put her groceries in the car, I offered to take her cart back for her.  I’d like to think it’s a chain, and that maybe if enough good links get put back into it, there will be less of those “me, me, me” links left to tarnish it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  2. I love your heart! Your children will see that and they will become a part of the good chain and not a link in the me, me, me chain. Keep spreading that heart and those smiles and I will too! I know it makes my heart a lot happier to be a part of something good than to be only focused on myself.
    Kristen recently posted..A Love of Reading

    • I’d like to hope it is! I know store employees seem to get quite a bit of it at this time of year, so I’m trying to be especially polite to them.

  4. Stopping by from SITS. I have definitely had many interactions with entitled people who think the world revolves around them. That’s wonderful though that you didn’t let that person spoil your mood. It was like a reverse pay-it-forward (if that makes any sense).

  5. I know exactly how that goes! And when you do offer a kindness, whether it be a smile, offering someone with a lot less to purchase than you to go ahead of you in line or offer to help someone get to their car, they look at you like you’ve grown 2 heads or like you’re trying to rob them. It’s so sad! I long for the day when an act of kindness is just accepted with a thank you and a smile and not suspicion.
    Julie Moore recently posted..{Guest Recipe} Coconut and Pineapple Smoothie (Soy, Fish, Wheat, Nut, Egg and Milk-Free)

  7. Amen to this post.
    I hate when this happens but sometimes I just take a deep breath and think be nice, be kind and remind myself maybe I’m judging (which is usually my first instinct) and that’s not to great a thing to do either!

    Then I try to temper my judgmental nature with the realities of life we can only control my own actions and the rest is up to the others. All we can do is hope they’re watching as we try to be better people. I believe your chain believe is the only way to go.
    jen recently posted..From Virginia to NY and back again..

    • Oh, it is so easy to judge, isn’t it? I try to remind myself that, too, when a car zips around me…Maybe they are rushing to the hospital…

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