Sometimes the unexpected is a good thing. Somewhere along the line being nice got trampled under the feet of being efficient and being polite became a license for everyone to abuse you. “The customer is always right” became “the customer has the right to treat you like crap” and so most people wear armor when they leave their houses, try to get the most done in the least amount of time, and wait for the next negative thing to happen. The best most people hope for is mediocre interactions with others or just to be left alone. Which is a pretty sad commentary to say the least.
Unfortunately I too have my days when that’s the way I’m operating. I have a lot going on in my life, I have a lot to do, I have my own thoughts and emotions going through me at any given time and that takes up the majority of my attention. The most I’m hoping for is to get my errands done and get on with the next thing. *sigh* So when someone genuinely smiles at me, is actually happy to be working with me, I’m surprised and pleased. Today was one of those unexpected days that just leave you smiling. I had an errand to run and the person that was helping me over the counter stopped for a moment and commented on how much she liked my tattoo. We started making small comments while she processed paper work and before I knew it we were having a wonderful conversation about tattoos, about local culture, and recent events. And I got my errand run, she wasn’t harassed by management, and we both seemed pleased and our days made more pleasant.
I wish there were more of that going on in the world. Wouldn’t we be more efficient and happier if we were a bit less efficient and a bit more happy with each other? Oh well, at least for today I’m smiling.