Step 23: Learn a Life Skill

Today, I woke up at the crack of 1, and was immediately suspicious at the lack of cat near my head.  Usually that means something good's going down somewhere else in the house.  I waited a few seconds, and then I heard the distinct sounds of Someone Upstairs.  Oddly enough, I was not alarmed.  But the sounds were of someone going from the upstairs desk, to the kitchen, running water, then to the bathroom.  These are not Burglar sounds these are Mom Stayed Home From Work sounds.  Turns out she was feeling poorly today, so she stayed home.  We spent the day watching TV.

I did, however, sneak down stairs for a little bit while she played MarioKart (I don't know, don't ask, she digs it)  and watched MelissaJenna's most recent YouTube video (and also the new episode of Glee on Hulu, but that's irrelevant).  Anyway, in MJ's video, she talked about politeness, and how, even if you can't control how polite other people are, you can control how polite you are to them.  I long ago decided that whoever MJ is in real life doesn't matter, I like who she is On the Internet, and that I'd do well to try and take some of her...serenity?  Yeah, serenity, to heart.  So I took her words about politeness and applied them when I went to the grocery store. 

When I first got there, I saw a good parking spot and was about to pull into it, when some teenage girl on a cell phone whipped into it without a glance at me.  I was miffed.  I mean, I waited patiently on the old woman in the crosswalk, I saw it first, I had the good sense NOT to drive while on a cell phone...I deserved that spot.  But then MJ's words came back to me, and I decided, you know what?  I don't know her whole story, and it's rude of me to mentally berate her based on my own assumptions.  I let it go, and decided to stick with the politeness lesson.  Somehow, when I turned to go down the aisle with the Stolen Space, the one right across from it, just as excellent, was free.  I hadn't noticed it before, but there it was, free and clear of anyone waiting patiently for it.

Once I got into the store, I walked close to one side or the other of each aisle, allowing people to pass me if needed, and when a gentleman was blocking my path, I smiled and said "Excuse me, please."  When he looked up, said "Sorry!"  and moved out of the way, I said "It's okay!  Thank you."  I continued this all the way to the checkout when I thanked the cashier. 

As I was getting into my car, I realized that instead of feeling tired and a little cranky, and stressed like I normally do after a trip to the grocery store, I felt fine.  Like myself.  Calm and unperturbed and just GOOD about life.  So I think this politeness thing is a good idea, and I'm going to continue to practice it.  I'm not saying I'll be perfect at it, but that's why I said "practice."

I think the important life skill I started practicing today helped my long term goal, as it's never a bad idea to be polite, regardless of what you're trying to achieve.

Current Status: Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Speant Today: $0