Pink Think: “It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to always be nice.” – Alyssa Milano
The other day, while I was waiting for a turn at Parent-Teacher conference, I had an interesting encounter with a mom. I got up for a second to talk to another teacher, and returned to my spot, to hear her telling her child that they are next, so to be patient. I said, “Oh, I’m next.”
She glared at me. “I’ve been waiting here longer.”
Now normally I wouldn’t have pushed it, but I was trying to get to my older daughter’s basketball game, so I said, “Do you have someplace to be? I have a basketball game to be to, so that’s why it would be helpful if I could go first.”
No reply. She wouldn’t look at me, but I could tell she was mad. She kept punching the keys on her iPhone, her whole body rigid.
When the teacher became available, I took my turn. Just two minutes with the teacher and my son. On my way out, I made a point to smile and tell the mom and her daughter thank you. She looked surprised, and smiled a little smile back. That was enough for me.
It made me think of the times when I get mad at people for whatever rudeness or inconsideration I imagine them to have inflicted upon me.
I’ve decided it’s a lot more pleasant to just smile and let it roll off my back. I’m not condoning rudeness. But guess what, I don’t have to be rude, too. In fact, being nice feels pretty darn good.
***
I’ve found myself smiling a lot lately.
I chalk this up to a conscious decision I made the start of the season to be nice. That’s it: be nice. I’m not doing it so I can be on Santa’s nice list. I guess you could say I’m doing it because I want to give others the gift of niceness.
A smile. An encouraging word. A friendly hello.
I’m nowhere near done with my Christmas shopping list, but the Spirit is there. I’m grateful. Just thinking about it makes me smile once again.
Merry Christmas, friends.
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