The sun sets on another day…
Sunset was a cascading series of colors lost in the moment. For a while, I could hear the waves crash, and the cars drive by, and a puppy pant in my ear, and well. It was awesome.
People as a whole are full of complexities. Many understand themselves and the world around them, but it is a constant series of self-discoveries, or it means nothing. After all, as the world changes around you, there is no choice but to learn, adapt, and decide your path each and every moment.
Tonight I interacted with two people in very different ways. For those of you who know me, I try hard always to be positive and make sure people around me are relatively comfortable. Sometimes it works; sometimes, it doesn’t. I do that as I know the good and evil in me, and I always choose.
As we watched the sunset tonight, we pulled behind a car stretching several paces. As usual, it was a packed house. I thought little of it, except I turned off my lights in case the person in front of me was in the car. I also do this in lines to keep from blinding the vehicles in front of me. Anyway, I watched the sunset, laughed heartily, and a woman came up to the car in front from swimming and cleaned up. I paid little attention as I was focused on the sunset and watched the skies spray a major light show across the horizon. It was spectacular. I glanced forward as the sun was setting, and the woman in front of me was frantic, and it was because my truck was still running. The words “C’mon man, I can’t hear the waves” fell out, along with a few other statements. I turned off the truck and joked, “I am nice once a year,” which surprised her, and she seemed to smile momentarily. It was cute, and I watched the skies as the day faded towards night through the bonds of twilight.
Was she right? Of course she was. Somewhere inside, I had gotten so used to all the people in this spot leaving cars on, being noisy, and being apathetic towards all the people around them that I had shown apathy for someone. I broke one of my own rules, that every situation must be evaluated separately. I was happy and left a card that will likely be discarded as I knew I would write about this tonight. I have to note that many people would have reacted less favorably than I did, so I am not sure I would recommend this course of action.
The night was upon us, so Pepper the puppy, decided it was time for ice cream. We drove past baby deer and spectacular skies to our favorite ice cream store. There was a line in the drive-through, so I went in. I laughed and enjoyed the moments. Then a person walked directly through the counter, bypassing the line, saying, “I need to go first.” I shrugged, thinking that a drive-through order was wrong or similar. What I heard astonished me. They began attacking the owner for not giving out excessive samples. The idea that “A few cents of ice cream is nothing to you” came out of his mouth, and the owner explained, trying to be calm, that the person did this often and he wasn’t doing it anymore. Voices were raised, and the person began ranting about how horrible the customer service was and was putting on a show in front of a line of people. At that point, I simply said in a slightly raised voice, “The customer service here is great,” only to be retorted with, “You need to shut up.” Bad idea. I moved forward since I was first in line and, without touching, made a clear statement followed by, “I think it is time for you to go.” I did not move my eyes from theirs. It lasted a second, and they went to the door. Their final words were, “This is horrible service,” then they looked at me, “And you, I will smell you later.”
I laughed. I ordered fun treats and a puppy sundae and laughed all the way home. Why? Well, a few “whys.” When did it become ok to disrespect others in favor of your own needs? When did people decide that good is only what is good for them?
I realized it all didn’t matter. The young woman was in the right. I should have given leeway as almost everywhere else I turn off the car and listen to the waves as she noted. The other, well, no business needs to give a sample of anything, but I was just happy because I chose to be good. I was positive and let the situation be resolved in a positive manner. In the end, that too was good.
How would you react? What would you have done? Do you ever consider your place in the world and how we all fit together? Is it all about you or all about us? Good questions, all. Ultimately, we should all find our way to be better, perhaps even best. For me, I beat anger, and it feels good.
So as the sun sets on another day, consider your world, and find a way to make everyone around you see the world in a better way. Oh, and if you are in a row of vehicles, remember you have an effect on everyone and can affect them without being aware. Be more aware, and make the world a better place, no matter what.
Sleep sweet, love life, and puppy cups are the bomb…