It makes me sad, that so many people seem rude, angry, hurried and generally un-happy these days. I believe living life in this state of mind, hinders logical thinking towards the consequences rude or inconsiderate actions could have. I also believe bad moods sow bad moods.
Such as the other night, I went to visit my in-laws. In the short 30-minute drive there, numerous times I heard horns beeping intolerably towards other drivers. Tires squealing as a driver swerved around another in frustration, because the car in front of them did not make a right turn into a driveway quickly enough. I saw drivers gesturing to other drivers (not waving either) apparently upset with the way the other person was driving. Then there was the man in a car sitting at a red light, in front of me and a car was in front of him. We were waiting for our green light.
The light for the other side of traffic turned red. It was in those, few seconds of time when both sides are red; the person in front of me started beeping at the first person at the red light, while simultaneously waving their hands in disgust. Apparently, upset when that first person did not jump on the accelerator to go, before the light actually turned green.
Why was he beeping I wondered and why would he want that person to jump the red light? Didn’t he realize that fraction of a second could be the difference between life and death, that on the other side; there might someone like him giving no regards to the red light and run it? Of course not, he didn’t care he just wanted to go.
These acts of anger and impatience, make me wonder frequently what has caused this mindset we the human race have allowed to take over our lives. Why are we so angry all the time?
A few years ago, I found myself much like this. I was driving my truck, behind someone and upset they were going the speed limit, because They were—In my way. Amidst one of my vocal rants towards someone doing exactly what they should be, I realized I was wrong. I wasn’t going any where in particular, so I pulled over, stopped to think about what I was feeling, doing and why.
In those few moments of introspection, it came to me, I was angry with myself and we can’t hide from out heart. What’s in our heart eventually comes out in what we say or how we act towards others. The discontentment today seems higher now, then in the depression era when people had less. So does this mean, we have too much, and then get angry because our excess still does not make us happy? Are we to busy trying to do it all, and then get angry because we cannot? The latter was my case.
From that day, I decided to try harder (I’m somewhat of a workaholic) and do something I’d not done in a while and that’s occasionally stop and smell the roses. Look at the marvels around me, appreciate life and the people in it and listen to the little voice inside my head when it says, now is the time to do something nice.
September 12th, Herbs & Things was set up at Beaver Meadows Old Homestead Days. It was a nice cool day, music 1800’s style was being played. People were dressed the part of the civil war period and children were playing, giggling, and adding more music to the air. Everyone was smiling, friendly and having a good time. I heard no cell phones ringing, boom boxes playing, car horns beeping or cross- words spoken between people. No one seemed hurried and all were enjoying the day.
A couple came up to my booth. The woman was carrying a small dried bouquet of flowers. The bouquet caught my eye, because in its simple little arraignment profound beauty emulated. I expressed to the woman how beautiful they were and how cute a little bouquet like that would look on my table. I asked her where she got them. She told me from two tents down.
“I’ll have to go over there when I get a chance. They are so pretty,” I said.
We chatted for a while. They eyed the corn bread mix Herbs & Things sells and decided to buy one. My little voice inside my head spoke and told me to give them the mini Gilded Corn Bread cookbook to go with it. They were thrilled and asked, “Are you sure, its $3.00?”
“Yes” I told them.
I really wanted them to have it.
They left and about 2 minutes later, the woman hurriedly was walking back to my booth. I could tell she was on a mission of sorts, and to be honest expected her to be unhappy about their cornbread mix purchase.
When she got to my booth she smiled wide, stretched out her arm, and said, “Here these are for you” and handed me one of those beautiful bouquets of flowers. My heart leapt with joy and I told her thank you, thank you, cradling the flowers as if they were worth a million dollars. They were beautiful and to my heart, they were worth more than a million dollars.
I am sorry I didn’t get her name. I would have sent her a thank you card and let her know, that she made my day. In reality that moment and those flowers, made more than a days lasting impression. I have that small bouquet of flowers in my shop on my windowsill. Every day when I open the doors for the day, those flowers remind it only takes one simple act of kindness to grow a whole garden of good feelings.
September 12th, I received reconfirmation that even in today's hectic world of many not wanting to take the time to go out of their way for anyone that humanity still exists. In addition, more simple acts of kindness are what the world needs, because, they make the biggest impact.
Consequently this small moment in time made me happy in my heart for days, thus what was in my heart, came out of my mouth, and actions towards others. I am hoping someday this mode of thought will re-enter everyone’s life making life happier and less hectic.
So every day I try to pick a moment and show someone an unexpected act of kindness. Doing so, seeing the joy in their eyes, makes my heart happy and that happiness consequently comes out through MY mouth, and actions towards others.
Up date,
Two days ago, after writing this blog and before publishing it, the woman who gave me the beautiful bouquet of flowers, stopped at the Holland Farmers Market.
I spied her and might have embarrassed her when I said. “Its you!”
She smiled, “yes Beaver Meadows.”
I called to Marg the market coordinator, “This is the woman I was telling you about that gave me that bouquet of flowers.”
“OH my” Marg said, “You’re her…You made her day that day.”
Again, this woman brightened my day by taking the time to stop at the market. Now I can thank her properly, because I know her name.
Thank you Mary Ann!
