I'm getting better at handling surprises and interruptions, but in the past I wanted to make a plan and for the plan to "make it" through the day. Older and wiser I don't plan so much and I know surprises are coming.
This week I shocked a shopper in a thrift store. I like to purchase things there to save money, save the planet, and contribute to the homeless shelter.
I
'm browsing through the aisles when I smell smoke. I notice a fellow trying to cover his cigarette with his hand as he puffs away. Now, there's a genius: smoke is coming up, smells are radiating, but you've got the cigarette concealed by your hand.
Anyway I wanted to make sure he wasn't one of the men from the shelter. They cannot smoke on the premises or at the shelter. I would have reported one of them to the manager, but I realized this guy was a shopper.
Oh boy! I wasn't happy. The store is an old building filled with old stuff....one spark and we'd all have a surprise! But what really ticked me off was thinking of the addicts working who had to be dying for a cigarette (I never smoked but I have a tough time changing any habits) and here is this dude puffing away. I finally got the nerve to stroll over near him. He has now put out the cigarette and it's stuck behind his ear.
"Sir, I don't mean to be intrusive but you may not know that the men from the shelter or those working community hours cannot smoke in here..." He interrupted me, "Oh, you want me to take my cigarette from behind my ear?" I nodded and he put it in his pocket.
I felt kinda' like the old woman everybody dreads bumping into. But working at the check out was a nice young man who sniffed in the air and said, "Can't these people read the signs: NO SMOKING?" I smiled and said I hope someone starts enforcing that rule.
He said with sweat on his brow, "I need not to smell cigarettes because I really want to be done with them forever."
I've never approached anyone about something like this before. I surprised myself, but after hearing that addict's plea for help, I may become a surprise again.
Enjoy the day. So what if your plans pan out a bit differently than anticipated. Go with the flow!!!
2 comments:
It is very frustrating to see rules in place, someone breaking them, and no one enforcing them. It took a lot of courage for you to say something - because in this day and age you could have been physically at risk. Thank God for angels. . . :)
Dorothy,
Caring for those guys trying to turn their lives around is pretty poweful for me. Of course, the fact that I don't always engage my brain when my heart is throbbing with concern must put some angels on double guard duty.
Anyway it all turned out well. I still laugh thinking about the smoke curling up and this guy thinks he's concealing the fact that he's smoking.
Thanks for comment.
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