A Laughing Matter
A friend of mine went shopping recently and after getting a cart, discovered it was wet! She walked away from it for just a moment to retrieve a paper towel near the door. As she was returning to the cart (only about six feet in front of her) another lady came along and took the cart. Laughing she said, “Okay!” and made her way back through the entrance to retrieve another one.
The lady’s husband walked up about then and she shared with him what had happened. Another man, standing near the couple said in a rather nasty tone, “If that had happened to me I would have said, “ex-CUSE me, that is my cart!”
What has happened in our world where a sense of humor, common courtesy and good manners is beyond possibility? We have become a culture that is determined to think of ourselves first and then our neighbor. If it’s a stranger we need to contemplate, then consideration seems out of the question!
The story about the “stolen” cart made me laugh. I found it humorous the other lady nabbed the cart without considering it might be someone else’s! I admit there have been times when I’ve been shopping and decided to not get a cart since I hadn’t planned on purchasing many items. Once I started shopping, I realized a cart was necessary. I hated the thought of returning to the front of the store, especially since it would mean putting my items down and in the truest sense go out of the store without my goods because I would set off the alarm and be apprehended as a shoplifter! So if on my journey to retrieve one, I happened on an empty, and apparently “un-owned” cart in another isle, I’d scoff it up. I did usually do a double take to see if anyone was near and on occasion have even asked the nearest person if the cart was taken.
When should we consider misunderstandings as rudeness or a laughing matter? My personality demands it be a laughing matter. That doesn’t mean I want someone to be deliberately rude or nasty. But the lady who took my friend’s cart had no idea it belonged to someone else. She was probably like I was when my hands were full and wanted a cart of my own when shopping. She did not “steal” the cart to deliberately antagonize someone.
We get so caught up in the “it’s all about me” mind set, however, we are almost paranoid about someone else’s actions. We are sure their behavior, however slight, was meant directly to offend us. It’s as if we believe they planned it irritate us before they ever saw us, making their day complete when they could totally aggravate us! This is irrational behavior. It reminds me of a two year old who doesn’t want to share his toy, only worse because we’re adults! It is getting upset about something unplanned and just happens.
Our world does not only revolve around us, but others who share the same space. It would serve us better if we could remember that everyone has issues, and likely if we listened, possibly greater than our own. So the next time it seems someone is deliberately trying to annoy you, consider their situation. It’s likely no maliciousness was intended. Laugh at the situation and move on! Choose to be the rose rather than the thorn!