Okay okay, I'll admit the title of this post is cynical. I don't know if lack of courtesy is just something I have become accustomed to because it is no longer around or if it is unique to the particular geographic location I currently inhabit. I could go off on a long rant about the sense of entitlement that a few demographics (in my opinion) seem to feel, like they should be the first in line or that things should just come for free.
Something happened to me while in a shop yesterday that I feel compelled to write about. I was in a grocery store, and was only buying one thing. As it is the week before Christmas, of course every checkout at the store had a long lineup, and especially the express lineup. If I have time, I don't mind waiting, so I went to a regular checkout, behind an older woman who had a cart full of groceries. As she was unloading, I saw her look at me, look at my one thing, saw that I was paying in cash, and then she said it:
You have only one thing, why don't you go ahead of me?
Thank you, I said. I wanted to say "that kind of courtesy is so rare these days!" but I didn't want to spread my cynicism. I was perfectly willing to wait until her transaction would have been completed, it would have taken ten or fifteen minutes out of my life. I expect to stand in lines at any store at this time of the year. It was nice to know that it is still possible to people to be considerate of others.
Something happened to me while in a shop yesterday that I feel compelled to write about. I was in a grocery store, and was only buying one thing. As it is the week before Christmas, of course every checkout at the store had a long lineup, and especially the express lineup. If I have time, I don't mind waiting, so I went to a regular checkout, behind an older woman who had a cart full of groceries. As she was unloading, I saw her look at me, look at my one thing, saw that I was paying in cash, and then she said it:
You have only one thing, why don't you go ahead of me?
Thank you, I said. I wanted to say "that kind of courtesy is so rare these days!" but I didn't want to spread my cynicism. I was perfectly willing to wait until her transaction would have been completed, it would have taken ten or fifteen minutes out of my life. I expect to stand in lines at any store at this time of the year. It was nice to know that it is still possible to people to be considerate of others.
darn it... where's that love button for me to click? XD
ReplyDeleteLittle acts of kindness and courtesy always make my eyes glossy. I shouldn't be so emotional over it, but what you said is so true. They do indeed seem like they are becoming rarer. Bless that nice lady's heart. :)
That happened to me yesterday, but I was the one letting someone go ahead of me. I told her I wasn't in any hurry. I never am in the supermarket, it just doesn't pay to get my stress level up. Hope you have a very Blessed Christmas!
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