The feelings of gratitude that I have are for coming to a full awakening within myself. A true knowing that it is I who takes responsibility for this life...no one else. I choose to see things from a perspective that acknowledges the rainbows after the storm, and takes in the fact that the decisions and choices we make today will therefore define our destiny. Each day is a gift, each moment is ours to embrace. I also choose LOVE. I believe that there are only 2 kinds of thoughts, those that contain love...and those that do not contain love. The thoughts containing love bring us peace, joy, and fulfilment. The thoughts without love only bring worry, resentment and emptiness. For this reason, why not choose to go with love? Its all around us, we just have to look for it.
The other night, my husband and I after a long hard week of working out and eating protein shakes and salads (we are trying to get into our best summer shape) decided to take one night off and head over to Dairy Queen to get a treat. (A cool treat of course, lol) It was fairly busy, and there was a line up of people eagerly waiting to get their tasty, icy, guilt producing delight. It was almost my turn, when suddenly a very angry women approached the counter. I could actually feel her negative energy oozing out of her before she even spoke, "I want you to turn this upside down!" She stated in a condescending, disgruntled tone. The poor women who was doing her best on a Saturday night to keep up with the crowd, working on the till and had nothing to do with making the orders humbly and politely did as she was asked. (If you've been to dairy queen, you know their claim to fame is that they can flip the blizzards upside down, not even sure why, but I guess its to prove that its fresh) To the bitter women's dismay, the friendly dairy queen staff member successfully spun the blizzard upside down and not a drip. The woman let our a huge SIGH, rolled her eyes and stomped out of the store.
Now, my heart was beating fast at this point...and I almost wanted to burst into tears, because there were about 25 people who witness this awkward, degrading moment take place as this person tried to humiliate the staff member. At first I was upset with myself, thinking, "I should have said something, I should have defended her. She was in the wrong, and I should have said something" But after reflecting on this situation later that night, I realized something. A revelation that just might change me forever. It is not my job to judge others, or be the referee in and among our fellow human beings. I cannot, and will not ever know the full picture of why that woman was so angry, nor should I try. What I can do is admire that staff member, who was kind, slow to anger, and kept her composure throughout the whole ordeal. That was true courage.
The next day I went to Tim Horton's, picked up a gift card and put it inside a card. I wrote in the card;
"Dear friendly DQ staff member,
I was in to your store last evening, when I witness a customer who was extremely rude to you. I want to thank you for your example, as I felt you handled the situation with grace and humility. We need more people like you in this world. Take care, from a satisfied customer. Enjoy a Timmy's on me"
Now I know what you are thinking, why in the world did something so "seemingly insignificant" have such a huge impact on me. Because it at that moment, my heart was open to one of the greatest lessons that I will ever receive. It is in those small, minuscule moments that our true character comes forth. We have a choice, react in anger....or respond in love. I want to always choose love. Always. Love never fails.
So maybe when we look for love, in the big things, as well as in those small fleeting moments...we wont miss it. We wont miss the lesson, the chance for powerful growth. It is everywhere, we just have to look for it.
