Attitude Adjustment

I am typically that really grouchy lady at the grocery store who rolls her eyes at slowpokes, gets irritated that the store has moved her needed item to the "special display" area that she cannot find, and is clearly angry when someone dares to take 12 items into the express lane.

But yesterday, I decided to go to the grocery store with a new attitude. I slowly cruised the parking lot, not worrying that I had to park 50 spots away from the door. I didn't even blink when I got the cart missing the lower rack and with the one wheel that keeps spinning around. I patiently waited for the little old man who stood in the middle of the produce aisle eating his free starbucks giveaway, and I leisurely strolled the aisles smiling at everyone and laughing over mishaps with carts and merging in the aisles. When I got to the front of the store, and saw the mob scene at the registers, I selected a nearby line without even trying to calculate which one might be the shortest, and did not even blink when the woman in front of me had to review at least 50 coupons before she was done. In fact, while in the line, someone passed me with a ton of items precariousy balanced in her arms and when she dropped one, I immediately stepped up to grab the item before she bent over and lost more. She was so grateful you would think I'd given her $100 for a shopping spree.

When I left the store, I reflected on why this trip to the store had taken longer than usual, and yet I wasn't impatient or irritated, or put in a foul mood. People around me had been much the same, but by adjusting my attitude, it was just a little more pleasant overall.

I thought about all the people I had smiled at in the store and wondered if they left with a little better attitude as well. I hope so. Whether it was any kind of little Christmas Spirit, or just a needed attitude adjustment, I'm going to try this in more aspects of my life.