Sometimes I get so absorbed in duties, tasks and work that I forget to step out into the world and interact with real live human beings. And I don’t always remember how good that can be. Take this week, for example. I was trying to get things done and not doing a very good job of it. Add a dash of uninvited negativity from one source or another, along with inactivity due to rain, and I ended up with a hodgepodge of the blahs. By the time I’d reached the point of losing what little decorum I claim as my own, well, I was just about hopeless.
And then it occurred to me to make myself presentable and leave the danged house for a while. Nothing fancy, mind you. Just a simple outing, and a few errands. The weather began to clear as I got in my old car and started driving.
I won’t lie. It took a bit of energy to make myself get out there. But I knew I needed it. And I knew I needed to smile while I was out and about, too. Sometimes what you put forward is exactly what’s reflected back. And I couldn’t take any frowns coming my way. When you’re dragging on the inside, you just don’t want to see dragging on the outside, too. So I faked it. And I slowly started to feel myself coming back from Blahs-ville. And then something happened that pushed me all the way over to the sunny side.
I was standing in line for coffee, when I saw a chick with such style, such pizzazz, that I was downright envious. She was wearing some patterned leggings with snowflakes and boots, along with a colorful t-shirt and long sweater. To top it off, she had tied a patterned scarf around her neck and the whole outfit worked brilliantly. It was so happy and cool. I wanted to tell her how awesome she looked, but that seemed too dorky. And then, as fate would have it, she passed right in front of me. I took a chance and said, “Excuse me, but I’ve been admiring your whole look and thinking to myself that I wish I had someone like you to take me shopping. You look gorgeous!” Her face sank. “Are you serious?” she asked. “Yes! I love how sassy and cute you look,” I replied. She slowly smiled and said, “Thank you so much. I’m a mom of two kids and most of the time I feel like I look disgusting. You’ve made my day!” We each took our coffees and parted ways, both of us smiling with sincerity.
I’d like to tell you I’m getting better at this life thing, but I don’t always learn my lessons. Some of them have to be lived again and again. That’s what my stepping out day felt like. I wish I could have simply known I needed to battle negativity with positive vibes, but I didn’t remember. It was only when I experienced that action that I knew I had taken the right steps. And hey – not only did I benefit from honest-to-goodness, real-as-can-be positive vibes, I also got to pass some along to a darling, nice mother of two. Who knows? Maybe she went home and spread some good vibes to her kids and her mate. And maybe those folks spread some good vibes around as well.
I like to think so anyway.