Overcoming Obstacles with Kindness

--by Bluebell, posted Dec 6, 2010

I live in a small town but even so parking is a luxury. If you want to go shopping in town you pay.

I went to town to get a few bits and pieces and had my parking under control for an hour when I bumped into a friend. She is 81 years old and a sweetheart and she wanted to talk. So, I was at the door of the shopping centre with almost one foot out the door, an eye out for the parking attendant and an attentive ear for her.

When I saw the parking attendant my heart sank. I ran to the car to find a square piece of paper glued to my front window then run to the man who was walking slowly along the cars. I explained that I was just a few minutes late and the proof was that I was there talking to him.

If I had parked the car at the other end of the car park it would have given me time to avoid a ticket. I felt terrible. Probably the impact was so huge because it was my very first ticket.

I got home thinking that the money I had saved was going to be given to the council and that I was going to be short of money for the rest of the month. I must have sent at least ten frustrated messages to a friend, then I calmed down and decided to turn things around.

I went to the council paid the fine (probably the quickest person to pay a fine) and then I had a hot chocolate, enjoyed the view from the coffee shop and left behind two glass hearts saying good luck and some smile cards. Then I made a cake for a friend with all my love and care.

There was this magnificent Portuguese poet that said " Stones in my way? I pick them all, one day I will buid a castle." I may not build a castle but I will surely spread my Smile cards and carry on making cakes with love for my friends.

Love and Light and a Thousand Smiles.

2812 Reads

Posted by Bluebell
Dec 6, 2010
Comments (5)

Readers Comments

unknown wrote: Its difficult to convince the public servants these days anywhere even if one had a genuine reason. Life is automatized ... but the heart warming part was your acceptance ... filled your heart with chocolate and spread the seeds across ... much love, deepula :)

unknown wrote: You healed yourself ... thanks for being loving to you yourself ... the world lacks this ... I m making some food shortly and will make an extra morsel for you bluebell ... you are special :) hugs, deepula.

PaddyD wrote: I am adding a smile to help take some of the sting out of a parking ticket. They are horrible things and I in a way feel bad for the ticket giver. I remember I returned to my car once to find it in the process of being clamped. I am a big guy and when the clampers saw me I could see them stiffen in anticipation of some verbal abuse or worse. I noticed this straight away and knew how much or their day must be filled with this reaction. I knew I was in the wrong, I was late back and did not get a disk for the parking so why should I take it out on them. So when I simply asked what did I need to do to get it removed it was nice and maybe made their day to see them look both surprised and relaxed not to have yet another abusive confrontation. It is a very thankless job and they too have families to go home to. Its never nice to get a ticket but they are just doing a job. So good for you to just accept the ticket and move on with your day.

Bluebellgirl wrote: let go and let God, some say. i say just go with the flow, you handled the situation quite nicely, bluebell :)
sincerly, flowerpower :D

dreamer22 wrote: This is a great way to turn things around for yourself. Heard somewhere that "10% is what happens to you, 90% how you react to it". You chose to change your experience and instead of being angry and bitter you spread kindness. You're awesome!

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