My Resolution

Small things matter – sometimes more than we all realize, here are some of my thoughts…

Out shopping the other day and as I waited in line, I observed a customer who was speaking rather loudly and not very politely to the cashier who was having issues with her computer. As a person who used work in retail, and who is familiar with technology on at least a manageable level, I had this private conversation with myself as the scene unfolded “Why be rude to the person who is trying to help you? So they may not know the answer to your question and have to ask someone else – at least they are trying to help.  – How Rude!”

Then today, I found myself being rude to a poor telephone operator who first of all was working on Christmas, and was just as baffled at my situation as I was. I realized what I was doing and apologized to him for being rude. I tried to let him know that I understood that it was not his fault and that I was mad at the situation and not him. I could hear him calm down and he laughed and said “I understand I would be mad too”. We proceeded to have a nice conversation about the ineptness of a certain agency, the holidays and the weather as we waited for his manger to assist him on another line. When I hung up the phone I was mad at myself for acting exactly like the woman I criticized above. It was a small thing for me to acknowledge that there was a real person on the other end of the phone; however it made a big difference in how they felt.

So during this Holiday Season, as I look around and listen to all the “Good Will” floating around, I hope that all of us (Me included) remember that we should feel this way Year Round, not just when the Calendar tells us to.

Pay it forward…small things matter. This is my resolution for the upcoming year. To remember that everyone matters, and that we all need to feel human and cared about – no matter what our situation, and to help others feel that year round.