Maybe it's just the season?
Dec. 5th, 2013 06:58 pmYesterday, I stopped off at the grocery store after taking Nanook to get his shots, to pick up just a couple of things. When I got in line behind a father and very young son, I noticed a set of light bulbs on the edge of the counter, not on the belt. I thought I saw the gentleman glance at and ignore them, so I didn't say anything, even though that extra sense was tingling very insistently.
It turns out the bulbs were his; he had intended to buy them but his son had unloaded their basket, imperfectly. So they had to wait for my purchase to be completed. It bothered me that I hadn't spoken up, thereby playing a part in delaying a father already working hard to keep an eye on and take care of his son while simultaneously taking care of life, the universe and grocery shopping. So I asked the clerk to ring the bulbs up with my purchases. I tried to be quiet about it but she was a little slow on the uptake, then outed me when the gentleman thanked her. I still don't know why I did it, other than I could, and it felt like the thing to do.
I want to create a life where I can do things for others, big and small, whenever I find it needful, or just the right thing to do in the moment. That's the giving person I want to be.
It turns out the bulbs were his; he had intended to buy them but his son had unloaded their basket, imperfectly. So they had to wait for my purchase to be completed. It bothered me that I hadn't spoken up, thereby playing a part in delaying a father already working hard to keep an eye on and take care of his son while simultaneously taking care of life, the universe and grocery shopping. So I asked the clerk to ring the bulbs up with my purchases. I tried to be quiet about it but she was a little slow on the uptake, then outed me when the gentleman thanked her. I still don't know why I did it, other than I could, and it felt like the thing to do.
I want to create a life where I can do things for others, big and small, whenever I find it needful, or just the right thing to do in the moment. That's the giving person I want to be.