Posted by TitleGalCA on 10/26/06 11:48pm
Msg #155410

OT: Attitude matters

Just an experience I wanted to share: shortly after leaving work I had the need to stop by my local Rite Aid to purchase Benedryl. With the winds, my allergies are working overtime.

I was standing in line, sort of impatient, annoyed with the wait and dressed in my conservative work clothes, thinking about all my problems when a young man got in line behind me. He couldn’t have been a day over 21. After a minute or two, he said to me, completely un-invited: “Ma’am, you dropped something”.

I was startled and looked at him and the floor and said, “What”?

He said, “You dropped your Smile”. I was floored. I had one of those moments where you know that God Himself is reminding you of something, via another person. He was right. The Smile had been replaced by an impatient scowl, that was not particularly attractive, and even affected my mood, thoughts, body language – everything.

I looked at him and noticed the pimples, the still not-so-manlike body and the sweet look in his eyes and felt so damn grateful. I said, “You are right. I did drop it. Thank you for picking it up for me”. He said he thought I probably had a pretty smile and he just wanted to tell me that.

Honestly? I could have hugged him, adopted him, ravished him…whatever, just because he gave me such a nice gift – all while waiting in line at Rite Aid. I smiled all the way home and the smile is still there now.

I just wanted to remind everyone that smiles and attitudes are important. They show. You don’t fool anyone, whether at work or play, or in line at Rite Aid, or at a signing. If everyone just gave a little bit to the world around them with a Smile, the world would be a much nicer place.

End of philosophical moment – hope it matters to someone as it did for me. I intend to smile more often - it feels so much nicer than the standard poker face.

Reply by Jersey_Boy on 10/27/06 12:40am
Msg #155420

Nice Experience.... It made me smile and that was exactly your point. For this I thank you.

Then I got to thinking about the kid, "you dopped something", you look, "what" and then scream like a lunatic in the store. THAT MADE ME LAUGH!

I don't know you personally and I don't mean to impose the idea that you'd spaz like that. I personally know many people that if, in that situation, would spaz. Just gave me a good belly chuckle to think about it.

Thanks for posting that. I enjoyed it in more ways than one.

Reply by PJM/MI on 10/27/06 6:37am
Msg #155430

Yepper... we gotta keep our chins up & smiles on our faces.
In my "former" life, I learned at a D&B seminar to SMILE while on the phone. People can "hear" our smiles. (Then you can hang up and frown).
I'm sure you'll use the line "you dropped something" to the next non-smiler you see.

Reply by hcampersFL on 10/27/06 7:27am
Msg #155436

Sometimes you have to "fake it til you make it". I learned a long time ago while I was a bartender, you don't always feel like smiling but if you put one on you face anyway after a little while you feel better and you ain't faking it anymore.

Reply by rlogan_ca on 10/27/06 10:36am
Msg #155483

Great story! Thanks for sending me off with my smile today.

Reply by Poppy on 10/27/06 12:08pm
Msg #155520

What a beautiful story. TitleGal... Thanks for sharing it! n/m

Reply by Stamper_WI on 10/27/06 5:12pm
Msg #155614

Re: What a beautiful story. TitleGal... Thanks for sharing it!

My then 8 yr old daughter did something like that once when we were in the car. The previous couple of years had been horribly hard on my family and the blue skies were ahead. She asked me what that was on my face. I checked in the mirror and didn't see anything. After a couple of more checks she pointed out I was smiling.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 10/27/06 10:28pm
Msg #155665

Re: What a beautiful story. TitleGal... Thanks for sharing

Welcome - I'm still smiling! It does matter, and I'm grateful for the reminder he gave me.