Kindness

I have a bad habit of being wrapped up in my thoughts and not paying attention to the world around me. Usually this is the worst when I'm at the grocery store. If I take the boys (ages 4 and 1) plus my budgeted list I have a hard enough time keeping track of what I'm doing let alone the other people in the store.

Last night we were in need of a quickie grocery store trip- one of those 'we're out of milk and I probably should get bread...and fruit...and cereal...and...' so while Chad put the kids to bed I ran downtown by myself. When I walked in the store it was practically empty which is just the way I like it. No crowds, no noise, stocked shelves...peaceful shopping.

The very first aisle I went down I recognized the woman in the aisle. She was an employee and I had actually written her car insurance a month ago. I knew she wouldn't remember me so I thought about smiling and walking by but instead I decided to say hello. I'm not good at beginning conversations. I tend to be awkward and fumble to say the most basic sentences. So I said hello and introduced myself. She smiled and said "I'm so glad you said hello...I had a question about my bill..." I was able to answer her question and I was feeling pretty brave. I found the milk and it was on sale so I put two gallons in my little basket. Immediately I turned to the woman next to me and said "I don't know why I got the milk first, now I have to carry it through the store." She smiled but didn't say anything. Now I have talked to two people. I never do that! I picked up a few more things and then turned down the baking aisle to get some white flour. I stared at the flour thinking about how badly my arm was hurting and how I didn't want to add flour to the basket when I heard a voice behind me. "Why don't you take my cart? I only need these two things and you can't fit flour in your basket." It was the milk lady! My kindness had been repaid! I thanked her and she handed over her cart.

I'm not sure if I'm going to make it a habit now to talk to strangers or anyone for that matter but it sure was nice to have such a positive "people" experience. Sometimes I run into people while I'm out who are rude and unkind and sometimes I run into someone who brightens my day. I want to be like that- I want to be someone who brightens someone else's day. Because when I got home from the grocery store last night I was still smiling.