The gas station convenience store was a little busier than normal.
I often stopped here on the way to work when I needed gas.
And sometimes I'd treat myself to many donuts or other junk food that I'd regret later.
This particular morning,
I was grabbing a drink while my car was filling up.
As I made my way toward the register,
I noticed a man waiting behind a lady who was checking out.
Because there was a rack of food fairly close to the register,
I stood next to the gentleman to start the line off to the side.
You know,
Sometimes you're able to start a line directly behind the next customer,
Everyone facing the register.
But at this store,
That wasn't possible.
So the line had to move out to the side.
I was waiting this way for a few minutes when another lady walked up to the other side of the guy who was next in line.
As he approached the cashier to pay,
Both of us moved slightly toward the place where he had just been standing.
I started to worry that this lady was going to cut me in line.
Getting cut in line is a unique type of slight.
It causes you to feel disrespected.
You get the sense that the other person considers you a pushover,
And your self-value takes a hit just a little.
I'm not trying to make a bigger deal out of it than it really is.
I mean,
People hurt each other in much more extreme and damaging ways.
But honestly,
Getting cut in line kind of stinks.
At least we can agree that cutting in line is rude and unkind.
I wasn't thinking all of this as I waited.
I was simply anticipating getting cut and trying to decide the best course of action to prevent it.
So I subtly inched toward the register,
Giving the lady a look to make sure she understood that I was going next.
I mean,
It was obvious who was in line first.
But I got the impression that she was pretending that I wasn't there first,
And that she didn't see me on the other side of the guy.
And then the moment of truth.
The cashier called out next,
And we both made a move toward the register.
I had not anticipated her quickness,
And she had a nice drop step to the register.
And as I looked at her in that brief moment,
Time seemed to slow down.
And I found myself faced with a choice.
I could take one large step,
Effectively boxing her out and making my way to the register first.
This would result in the fairest outcome because rightly,
I was in front of her.
However,
I could also back off and let her quote win.
As galling as that idea was,
I also thought that it may be the kinder,
More selfless course of action.
Of course,
I also wrestled with thoughts of being a pushover or weak.
But I considered her and her potential life experiences.
Maybe she was running late.
Maybe she really had thought she was in line before me.
Maybe she had never learned proper social etiquette.
Maybe she had a childhood where she wasn't respected,
And therefore,
Respect for others was somewhat foreign or absent in her life.
Whatever the case may be,
Would it encourage goodness and positivity if I were to fight her for first place in line?
Taking stock of those variables,
I made up my mind and gestured her toward the register.
She paused,
Looked at me with surprise,
And nodded a simple thank you.
I had made a choice for kindness,
And I felt good about that choice.
Partly I had a sense of relief that I wasn't being controlled because I had made the choice willingly to give up my place in line.
Also,
I imagined that she felt good about getting to pay first,
So making her feel good also felt good to me.
And I wondered what other positive outcomes may spring from this simple act of kindness.
Would she be slightly less stressed dealing with her kids later?
Would she drive a little slower and safer on the way home?
And that led me to further ponder,
Why wasn't I like this more?
Wouldn't it feel good to be more conscious about being kind to strangers throughout my day?
If I could perpetuate kindness,
What exponential positive effects might I have on my community?
There's a story out of Minnesota where at a Dairy Queen,
Over 900 cars participated in a Pay It Forward chain,
Each car paying for the order of the car behind it in line.
Y'all,
That's a lot of cars.
The chain lasted for over two and a half days.
This isn't a story about someone laying down their life for someone else,
But it does showcase some of the best of humanity.
Simple acts of random kindness.
Giving to others allows them to experience kindness,
But it also allows the benevolent party to experience joy.
How about you?
Are there opportunities to show more kindness in your daily life?
Like me,
Could you make more of an effort to seek out those opportunities?
If so,
What kind of positive impact could you have on your community,
Friends,
And family?
What kind of positive impact would showing kindness have on you?
I imagine it would do wonders for your community and your spirit.
Making the conscious effort to give and love strangers and friends might cause a ripple of positivity that could change lives for the better.
You may be able to positively influence someone 900 cars away.
So I encourage you,
Even in the face of stress,
Especially in the face of stress,
To give,
To love,
And show kindness in your daily life.
And that kindness that lifts the spirits of others may also serve to lift you and help you find the peace and freedom you deserve.
