Post #40

I was told that if you sincerely compliment three people each day, by the end of one year, you will have made [more than] 1,000 people happy.

A "regular" customer at BB came in today and I noticed that her hair looked different. With intentions to compliment the color of her hair, I asked if she had dyed it. She hesitated to speak and notably became anxious about my comment. She finally said, "It's a wig. I was undergoing chemo-therapy for a while." I nearly started crying on the spot because I felt as though I had said something wrong. Instead of breaking down, I told her, "Oh, well I was going to tell you that your hair looks great!" Her face lit up at that point, but I still felt like crying. I can't even imagine having to wear a wig...trust me, I've tried. I know quite a few people who have or have had cancer and I've thought about what I would possibly be feeling if I had to deal with that.

I almost always try to see things as if I were in someone else's shoes. I try not to have a one-sided opinion on most things, and I like to be able to empathize. We aren't alone in this world, so we shouldn't have to feel like we are. It's a struggle, I know. Sometimes it's so hard to be optimistic and it can also be hard to feel like you aren't alone in your struggles. That's normal, I've learned. Life is a series of peaks and valleys.

Take care.