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Monday, September 15, 2014

Something Special.

You guys.

It's been quite the week.

I have a lot of adjectives (and honestly, some expletives) that I'd like to put in front of that word, but we'll just keep it simple and say it's been a week. And I was really looking forward to a fresh start today.

So, I wake up early enough to write out my to-do list for the day, because being able to do that before work just makes all the difference. I have an extra cup of coffee. I start the new She Reads Truth plan. I am on it. 

And then I go to leave for work.

Annnndddd my car won't start.

So I ask a two or three people passing me if they can jump my car, and they say no. Which is totally fine--it's a Monday, we're all busy and trying to get to work. But then I wait by my car for thirty minutes and ask people to help me. And it wasn't just that they said no, because I totally get it. I probably wouldn't help a stranger if it was going to make me late either. So that wasn't what upset me, it was the way everyone said no.

"Do I look like I have time to help you?" 

"Nope--gotta go."

"Sorry, I don't have jumper cables." "Oh, I have jumper cables." "Sorry, I don't have a car." Proceeds to walk to his car.

"I seriously don't have time for this today." 

Okay, I get it. Everyone is busy. No one is obligated to help me. But seriously...a simple "I'm sorry, I don't have enough time. But good luck!" Or anything like that would have just made my morning a lot better.

So I do what anyone would do in this situation and cry and call my mom and decide that people are the worst.

Then I go back inside, in a much worse mood than I came out with. I'm waiting on the elevator and thinking about how people are the worst ever, and how everyone who just refused to help me has a black heart and I wonder how they would like it if their car wouldn't start when they were on their way to work and blah blah blah. 

This older man walks up just as the elevator dings, and he motions for me to go in front of him.

"It's elevator etiquette, you were here first." 

I made a joke about how elevator etiquette is so awkward and I never know what to do and he said, "You're a lady, you should always go first. 

Then we rode up in awkward elevator silence. When we got to his floor, he turned and waved to me and said, "It's a Monday. Make it something special." 




And just like that, my day got a lot better. Just because a little old man took the time to remind me that Mondays should be special.

We should all remember that our words and actions--no matter how small--can totally change someone's day. So be a little kinder than you feel like being. Choose to say something nice instead of something snarky. Just be nice, you know? It makes a difference.

It's a Monday. Make it something special. 

32 comments:

  1. Ugh, mega bummer about your car and how rude people were. Cheers to the sweet old man :)! Sending you sunshine today!

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  2. Ugh I'm sorry your day started off so awful! I'm happy that sweet old man was able to cheer you up a bit! Way to stay optimistic after a horrible start to your day!

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  3. Sorry you're having a rough day and hope it gets better. Love the message!

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  4. so terribly annoying about the car but what a lovely story it turned out to be! xo

    cheshirekatblog.com

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  5. sometimes the little things can turn your whole day around! hope today gets better!

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  6. Okay, that was terrible. And then it turned adorable. Sometimes people suck. But then sometimes other people don't suck and it's refreshing.

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  7. Wow, I had a similar situation this morning. My car wouldn't start either. I had to call a coworker to come pick me up. That was so adorable about the older man though! Hope your day gets better. :)

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  8. I'm so sorry about your car and the mean people! But that guy sounds adorable and what a great reminder to try to find little ways to make other people's day special. Because you never know what they are going through. I hope your day gets better and you enjoy the She Read Truth study. I started it today as well!

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  9. I can't even believe people acted that way, how awful! So sorry that your day started that way, but good for your for be able to and allowing someone else to turn it around :) I'm trying to be so aware lately of how a simple smile or kind word can truly make ALL the difference in someones day!

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  10. Oh man, just when our faith in humanity can be brought down, a happy smile, polite manners, and kind words make it all better! Hope your days IS something special;)

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  11. What a sweet old man...I'm sorry everyone else sucked, but your story shows how meaningful one little act of kindness can be! A lesson for all of us in that.

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  12. My husband's battery died a few weeks ago. Luckily I was like 5 minutes from him when it happened but we tried for like a solid hour to jump his car and not one person offered to help. Our society is so rude and disconnected.

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  13. I have been having car trouble too and thankfully everyone (for the most part) has been really helpful. I agree with you that even if people are turning down helping you they should at least be polite about it! I'm so glad this nice old man turned your day around. I wish there was someone like him for every day of the week, not just Mondays! Hopefully your week continues to get better. Buying a $160 car battery this weekend definitely wasn't a good start to mine.

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  14. I love that he said that you! What a sweet and genuine thing to say. He must have sensed that you weren't having a great morning. I just love that! I'm sorry that those people decided not to help you! :(

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  15. Wow! People can be so rude!!! I'm glad that man was willing to speak kindness and put a smile on your face! :-)

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  16. I am so sorry people are so rude. I don't who in this day in age doesn't have a set of jumper cables in their car. My Dad put them in mine when I got my license and I haven't gone a day without them. I would've helped you! So not ALL people are the worst, I promise. I am, however, glad your day got better!

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  17. You are kidding me!!!! What is wrong with people?!!? I am so glad your day was saved by that sweet man with the even sweeter reminder. Here's to making this week better than it began! :) XO!

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  18. Aww that totally sucks nobody stopped to help you out. I've been thinking lately that I go through life kind of too busy or oblivious to people's problems and I've been trying to be more mindful. I'm glad that someone helped turn your day around. Isn't it so interesting how something so simple as a smile or saying can help make someone's day change.Seems like no big deal but I love how Mother Teresa even emphasized that. I saw she reads truth recently and was thinking about joining in.

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  19. I can't believe people were so RUDE about it!!! UGHHHHH. This is why I don't even like leaving the house anymore.

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  20. I can't believe all of those rude people... I've had to get jump started a few times and most people were so nice! That's sad!

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  21. Someone seriously said "do I look like I have time to help you" ?!! What on earth? I'm glad that man was nice to you :)

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  22. Faith in humanity restored by that lovely soul, it is sad so many people are so rude and thoughtless...

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  23. I agree! That is a good saying! Also - what happened to the jump?

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  24. What a nice, wise man. I like that saying!

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  25. I can't believe not a single person would attempt to help you with your car! I always try and think of it as you would want someone to help you if the situation were reversed! So glad you ran into the guy in the elevator-- sometimes all it takes is something small like that, to really turn your day around! Hope you got your car to start eventually :)

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  26. What an excellent encounter to have after being shunned by rude strangers. Whenever I drive by people with car troubles on the side of the road I always feel so bad because I don't know the slightest thing about cars to pull over and help. Its just nice to be nice to other people. My daughter watches this children's dvd with a song that has the line 'we all share the sun and the dirt and the moon' and whenever its on and I hear it in the background its a very pleasant reminder that we're all in this together and to be nice(r). And now my mondays have a new mantra!

    Lauren / And Together We

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  27. I'm sorry about the car and how rude everyone was. That is so frustrating! But that man's comment would have perked me up too. So cool!

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  28. What a sweet comment, and a great way to think about a day that started off so poorly. I hope everything worked out with your car!

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  29. I'm glad things worked out in the end, but I must say that's horrible about all those people! I'm glad you ran into someone more kind afterward.

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  30. Ugh...what a way to start a Monday! I know I need to be reminded to stop and help more often...though I would be completely useless with jumping someones car..haha.

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