Life can be very discouraging. As we look around and interact with others, often individual’s “ugliness” surfaces in actions that are not “becoming” or enjoyable to be around. It can be easy to see the negative in our surroundings and also when interacting with others who criticize and always have something to say that is contradictory. There are those who only think of themselves and are oblivious to the needs of others – and the list goes on!
However, there comes those refreshing moments where, as we are “looking” around and really observing what is going on around us – we find individuals who are delightful, helpful, friendly and going out of their way to do their job well. I was given a sense of joy and appreciation from 3 individuals while, in of all places, Walmart this afternoon. My first was watching a young lady that, by her appearance some would have “judged” her, however as I watched her take care of the customers in the deli department (3 individuals were in front of me), I was just amazed at how genuinely caring she was to their needs, how friendly and yet very professional she was in the way she completed her tasks. I complimented her when it was my turn and she seemed surprised and said, she was “just doing her job” – yet there was something so refreshing to see a young woman have such grace and true caring about the people, and their wants, as she was helping them. I then stood in line behind a young mother with a small child still in diapers and an 8 or 9 year old – both were helping her unload the cart, being sweet and delightful with each other and interacting in such a wonderful way that it was a joy to watch. The gentleness, kindness and fun they were having was a pleasure to see and be a part of as the littlest one laugh and smiled at me as well as other customers and the checker. Then the lady checking me out was pleasant and fun with sincere caring for the customers and expressed how she enjoyed interacting with the people who came through her line. It made me actually “enjoy” my trip to the store! (and I am not particularly fond of shopping).
It is so often that we don’t take time to notice the goodness in others and also don’t take the time to share a smile or express something positive to others around us as they go about their routine or tasks that they are involved in. I try to be one of those individuals who “commits random acts of kindness” – however, I know there are times I am caught up with the issues in my own little world and forget to stop and take time to make a difference in someone else’s day – even if it is for just a passing moment or to simply share a smile.
As we struggle with what is going on inside us, what the people in our lives are doing that effect how we feel, go through our “daily functions”, it is easy to often turn to negative ways of dealing with them. We find some comfort food, head for a cigarette, alcoholic drink or other means to “deal” with the frustrations, feelings of lack and hopelessness, of not being in control, not being given what we want or need, etc. to help us “cope”. It can become an automatic default that we all find ourselves dealing with on a regular basis.
It takes “decision” to “make the choice” to stop when we find ourselves going down a path that is not positive. Sometimes we have to, as they say in football, drop back and punt. Taking a few minutes to re-focus to a more positive place or simply stopping to observe the good in others, the beauty in nature, the calmness in the birds and animals that are a part of our surroundings – can make all the difference in the world. It can take only a moment to head either the way of negativity or make the choice to look until we can find the positive in some aspect that we can then build on to head in a different direction.
The avenues we choose, though they may seem very small, can lead to larger and long term results that will be wonderful as opposed to staying in the quicksand of negativity that keeps us down.
I am grateful that God helped me to stop and see the beauty in those around me as well as in the “natures’ setting” while I am enjoying the singing of the birds and the peace I am feeling tonight as I reflect on His touch in my life today and the difference it has made inside my being for this moment / this evening.
May you also find the beauty in your life and rejoice in those moments, each one helping you to stay focused on the positive in our surroundings as opposed to the negativity.
Blessings along your journey!
I Can Do This Lifestyle 