Another GOOD Little Thing

  

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community today. It's always good to read what everyone shares.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb









           I went to the post office today, had two packages to mail and knew I would have a big wait. And wait I did. I was number twenty-four when I entered the line, and there was one counter open. I was there for an hour and a half. So, first I checked all the possible e-mails I could read, then Facebook, then my post today for comments, then read a few posts from others. It's not easy commenting on the phone, so that didn't take much time. People were shuffling, sighing, looking a little grumpy. I nearly posted on FB, but thought "I will not gripe. Others in the world stand for hours for necessary things, like food and water and blankets and medicine. I will not gripe." 
           Instead of an inner whine, I decided to try something I read about once to see if I could change my own feelings and maybe a few others. I started smiling at whomever I could make eye contact with. I chose those a little closer to me so if they smiled back I could say something nice about the weather. (It's unusually warm again, sweater weather.) It didn't take very long, maybe about ten minutes when I felt the mood shift, and then I began talking with the two men I was in between. One said he liked being out and about, did not work on Monday so that was his errand day, and he enjoyed the movement because his work kept him at a desk all day. The other man and I were about the same 



age. We traded grandchildren stories and ages. One of his grandchildren is the same age as my grandson, and attends the high school where my children went. He said he had a hard time standing because of a construction accident a long time ago, fell off a scaffold. Then we talked about the dangerous job that roofers do, and wow, he had the stories. But then, he told me that since he couldn't work construction anymore he completely changed jobs and became a pastor. We also talked about the lunch we were missing! I realize this is 'chit-chat' or 'small talk', call it what you will. But others in line began chatting, too, and I do think it's because I smiled. That hour and a half went much more happily than I originally imagined. I enjoyed getting to know something of these line "partners". 
          One more thing: when it was finally my turn, the first thing I did was smile and ask how the clerk's day was going. She gave me a big smile, and answered, "really fine. I just take it a person at a time." I could see her relax and BE fine.  Try it next time you're stuck at the PO. 

SMILIN' AT YA!