Ever have one of those days where you feel like the Universe is smiling down on you? For some of us that feels like a rare occurrence. Today is one of those rare days.
I got asked to go into work tonight, my day off. That’s the life of the restaurant business–just when you think you’re off, you’re not. But I chose this life so that’s on me. No whining or crying (well, only to myself 😉). You just go in and do it because your work ethic won’t let you not.
So I have to leave for work at 3:00 p.m. Gotta GSD* this time I have before work and get my chores done. The writing I had planned to do, well, guess that will just have to wait til next week. So as Pauly D and the Situation would say, I GTL’d my morning. Gym/Tan/Laundry for those not in the circa 2010 know of Jersey Shore lingo. Okay, no G or T for me, really I RLS’d today–Run, Laundry, Shop (groceries).
Funny, I have RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). Yes it’s a real thing and yes it’s annoying as fuck. If you have it, you know what I’m talking about.
So I rushed to get my RLS done and sat down to pay some bills, yet another super fun thing everyone loves to do on a beautiful, sunny day.
Rush, rush, rush, spend, spend, spend. When does it end?
In the midst of me giving away even more of my money, my boss calls me. I 100% expected him to tell me I had to come in even earlier. That would just be fitting for my life.
Well what do you fucking know? To my utter shock and amazement he said he got someone else to work tonight so I didn’t have to come in.
Excuse me what? You mean the Universe has blessed me with this wonderful surprise of a night off? To what do I owe this honor?
Let the cartwheels begin! 🤸♀️
I was so happy and it’s such a perfect weather day that I decided to walk over to my local coffee/bagel shop and get a vanilla latte. Extra sugar, extra vanilla, extra latte please. Can’t have my coffee taste like actual coffee.
That’ll be $6.26. Damn, I could give $7 but I don’t want all that change back. I know I have 26 cents jingling at the bottom of this purse somewhere. So even though the shop was busy and people were waiting in line behind me I began my search.
So I furiously dig, dig, dig for that change you know you have but can never seem to find when eyes behind you are shooting darts at the back of your head.
The man behind the counter said, “take your time, don’t rush. Too many people rush these days.” I said, “you’re right, we all need to stop and smell the roses.” He nodded with an agreeable smile.
Then I added, “or stop and smell the bagels.” Cheesy I know, but c’mon, it was the first thing I could think of. He smiled and repeated it back to me as I gratefully took my coffee and pranced on out the door. (Don’t worry, I left a tip and more than the 74 cents change I would have gotten back.)
Today I was reminded that it’s the little things in life – a friendly smile, a shared chuckle, warm coffee, invigorating sunshine and precious extra time.
So a seemingly shit day so far has turned into a great one. All my rush, rush, rush turned into thanks, thanks, thanks. I got the blessing of not having to work, I got my favorite milk and sugar concoction disguised as coffee, and I got the chance to make a hard-working man smile.
Most importantly, I got a great life lesson today:
Stop and smell the bagels.
❤️
CM
6/7/24
*GSD – Get Shit Done (or be 3 months behind in putting this post up)
