Nicer than Usual

The other day I was in Michael's. Now, that's a mistake in December! The line was long and all the registers were open, but it didn't seem to speed things up all that much. And yet, it wasn't unpleasant. Strangers were chatting about what they would do with the things in their carts or excited about a sale item.

I finally got to the counter and needed to do my purchase in two transactions -- one with my gift card, the other to be paid with my credit card. My clerk is a fellow who has been there for seven years (he told me), very Goth with the black scarf, hair dyed a color I'm not sure I could duplicate and piercings in places I don't want to think about.

I apologized, knowing it would hold up the line and he said it was all right. I said "I'll bet when you go home at night, you don't want to see a single person again, ever!"

He laughed and said, "There've been time I've felt like that, but this year is different. Everyone seems a little nicer, more patient. Friendlier, I guess. And that makes the day seem easier."

As we were chatting (and checking out -- he could multitask well!) we determined that it was perhaps that in the past six or seven months there has been a lot of anger in the world, and even now a lot of uncertainty. And people are tired of the anger, the "I'm right, you're wrong" mentality and all the heat the comes with it.

And maybe, just maybe, people are trying hard to be a little nicer, a little more patient, a little kinder.

I've noticed it when crossing the street, people stopping to let you pass, even if you're not in the zebra stripes.

I've seen it in check-out lines -- "Why don't you go ahead? You only have a couple of things."

I've noticed it on the highway -- drivers letting you in when it seemed like you might never get over a lane.

Kindness.

Oh, don't we all need it? And isn't this the season when it should most be present?

Or is it? Perhaps every season is the season for kindness.

At least, maybe it should be.

Please join lots of us bloggers for joy and good cheer at Share Your Cup! and at Sweet and Simple Fridays. And I'd like to thank Jody at Sweet and Simple for featuring my post on the Ice Berry Wreath at Southern Exposure in her week's features! Do stop by these blogs to check out the links. The inspiration will make you dizzy with happiness!