Stories of Kindness from Around the World

I'm Not In A Hurry.


--by BeeLine, posted Jan 12, 2008

Sometimes just the little things mean so much.

I was at the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon. In my neighborhood it seems that people think this is the only day and time the grocery store is open.

It was surprising to me how many people were uptight and impatient. On a Sunday! Supposedly the most peaceful day of the week and a lot of these people just came from church.

Well, whenever I got a frown I gave a smile. When I was in someone's way I said, "oh my goodness, I'm sorry".  As much as I tried to kill them with kindness, I got little or no response. I wasn't going to give up.

After swimming with "sharks", I made it to the check out counter. I got to the cashier and she had this face like she'd just been dragged through the mud. She had her guard up and was ready for any rude behavior she thought I had for her.

She began to quickly check my items and I looked at her with a big smile and said, "how are you?"

She was shocked I spoke to her. "Fine" she replied.

I said, "hey you don't have to go so fast, I am absolutely not in a hurry. Take your time. I was a cashier and a bagboy at a grocery store when I was younger. I know how it is."

She put her hand to her forehead, took a deep breath, smiled and mouthed the words, "Thank you."

That simple statement from a stranger was all it took to make her day. Sometimes as we get older we forget our own struggles in life. I used to hustle around in the parking lot pushing shopping carts in the rain and in the snow. I used to be one of two cashiers checking groceries on the busiest day of the week.

I remember thinking then, "I wish people were more patient and understanding."  We should try to remember how we felt in any given situation and do our best to "BE PATIENT" and understanding. 

(I was so tramatized by pushing those carts that even today, no matter how far away I park, I always push my carts back to the cart return. I grew up in cold, snowy  Pennsylvania.)

 

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Readers Comments

andriadesiree wrote: Love this reminder! We are all in this life together! Thank you...
geet wrote: Thanks for sharing.Next time I'm at a store, I'll put the cart in the right place.
brighteyes wrote: Everyone should be appreciated and thanked for the service they do....and YES, our society,me included sometimes, always seem to be in a rush and we can get short tempered, Patience is a very important and sometimes difficult virtue to acquire...thanks for reminding us how important it is and how it makes a huge difference. I too, grew up in midwest and always put my cart away....I also frequent the same grocery store and have become friendly with some of the baggers, the cashiers, etc....I like to smile and greet all and I say thank you to everyone for the services they provide....I too, LOVE THE THANK YOU'S AT WORK ...EVEN IF SOMETIMES THEY ARE FAR AND FEW.
katlampi wrote: I work as a cashier, so thank you on so many levels. It is nice to see some compassion. Just yesterday, I was asked to bring in carts, and it killed my entire day to see that fifteen of our blue carts were wandering around the parking lot in places other than the cart return. So inconsiderate. I live in Michigan, so comparably cold to the PA winters. Thank you for sharing this story with the group.
mitu915 wrote: you have great wisdom and strength! thanks for instilling that thought in all of us. :)
shruti wrote: I THINK OUR SMILE CHANGES EVERYTHING.
S KEEP SMILNG
AURELIA wrote: Thank you for reminding us to slow down and think of others. My son is a cashier and he said he can work for hours and not come across a frustrated person, but then all of sudden he has someone in line who feels He/She is 'better' than he is. They'll talk rudely to him and complain about everything from not weighing vegetables fast enough and the way he is bagging the items. He always tries to take a deep breath and then Have a Smile. I hope the readers of your story realize they effect people with their attitudes and will be inspired by your lovely story. THANK YOU for SMILING. ~Aurelia
MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: The little things always matter. Thanks for making a difference. It is always a good reminder to slow down. Thanks!
Nakamura216 wrote: I'd like to thank you for this. It seem so often that we forget what it was like or what it could be like. I wish you only the best and I'm pretty sure that I speak for the people in that kind of situation when I say thank you for realizing that life isn't going to end because it took a little bit more time in the store than it could have. Thank you For building Patients!
Norman wrote: Thanks for reminding us to be considerate.

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