Once upon a time I was so ready to feel like a target, or a victim, that I would’ve been offended by a simple gesture like that. Upset that a man have the absolute audacity to pay me a complement. I like to think I’ve grown a bit wiser since then.
I was at Sam Walton’s Hell Emporium, the one for normies, not the exclusive VIP member’s only Sam Walton’s Hell Emporium. I prefer not to go there, but it’s less than a block away and gas is fuckin expensive right now. Plus I really don’t feel like cycling 4 miles to get to Señor Smitty’s for an $.89 can of tomato sauce midday in the high desert. No thanks, that shit sucks.
[I had to stop writing to take Lili for a walk around the complex, she had to tinkle. Poor girl got stung on her paw by a wasp and we had to take a hiatus to wash her paw and apply some insect bite and sting cleaner/topical antihistamines. She’s fine now, but clearly confused as to why the grass betrayed her.]
So I’m leaving walmart, and like, who doesn’t smile when they get to leave walmart? I kid. So I’m leaving wally world and I glance over at the security guard and I crack a small smile. I like to smile softly when I make eye contact with people, it’s to show that I’m non-threatening and a safe person to talk to. You never know when a stranger needs someone safe who doesn’t know them. The guard smiled back and said “That smile’s nice by the way”. My smile grew far larger in response and I wore it proudly out the door.
Years ago, I worked for Starbucks. One of the things I was taught there was “Be kind to the elderly, it’s likely you’re the only person they’ll talk to today.” And yeah, it’s awesome to be kind to the elderly but why can’t we be kind to each other in general? It cost that guard $0 to compliment my smile, and I’m gonna carry that confidence with me all week.
It’s 11:15 AM here. I’m surprised I’ve had something noteworthy happen already today.
Signing off,
Nora