Yesterday, I talked about getting stood up at The Price is Right.
(I think we can all agree it was a bad decision on the stander-uppers part, because I am telling you am the ultimate audience supporter (especially since I’m not even allowed to be on for over 9 more years so it’s impossible to steal your chance). I’m all about TPiR.
I’d make awesome supportive, eye-emotion-filled faces and yell out prices. I’d get those contestant coordinators to adore me as part of your package. (After all, I got them to put me onstage my very first time seeing the show.) Anyway, I digress. I’m just saying…)
So, after I was stood up, I had a bit of crankiness in general in my day. Even when I was going to work, I was behind this super slow group going down into the subway. But the train was on its way. Usually, I laugh it off “Oh, Los Angelinos,” as I dart around making a run for the train.
But in this case, I did not laugh. I grumbled in my head. “Ugggh people,” I thought.
I noticed that my attitude was permeating every part of my day. And it didn’t need to. I didn’t like that.
So, I decided I needed an (*in robot-voice with super cool adjusting dance-type move*) attitude adjustment.
As Cory Booker always says, if you want kindness you just gotta be it. So then I posted a status on Facebook. (Yes, yes super duper lame Facebook – I posted it on my personal page even though I know I need to start phasing that one out in favor of the public one… But for now it’s where I put all my C-material. And I thought this status would be met with either crickets and/or sarcasm, so I threw it up there where I throw the rest of my trash… yeah, I said it).
Aaaanyway, this is what I posted:
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Anybody need anything?
I was a little cranky today because I traversed around Los Angeles – in the daytime hours when the sun is up(!) – to help out a stranger (blog reader)… just to be blown off by said stranger and totally waste my morning (and oh so precious sleep time).
Then I felt that crankiness permeating my day when in my head I was yelling at people who do not know subway station etiquette. (Come on, now. Don’t walk 5 people wide super slowly down the stairs when the train is coming… Some of us are actually trying to make that train.)
THEN I thought, “Oh, Aurora. You need to be a little less concerned with your own needs or crankiness, and you need to be a little more concerned with the needs of the people around you. Stop thinking ‘So cranky today. Just want a hug.’ Start thinking, ‘who needs a hug, or a smile, or a friend, or a listener, or whatever?'”
So, what do you need, people reading this? Do you need to talk about your life with someone? Do you need deliciousness from Starbucks? Do you need a hug? (I love hugs.) I’m at Miracle Mile all night. Dinner’s on me if you’re around. If you’re not around, I hope y’all know you can call me anytime about anything. Seriously, call right now if you want.
Have a gorgeous, beautiful night. And let me know if there’s anything I can do for you! xoxo
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And you know what? It was actually met with tons of love right back at me! I couldn’t believe it. I guess I people are less cynical and judge-y than I thought. Instead of being meet with jeers and sarcasm, I got texts such as, “You are amazing. I am a fan.” “I read your post and it made me smile. You deserve the best.”
I got a voicemail and part of it said, “You’re just so awesome. And I’m so lucky to be friends with you. So I was just calling to tell you that.”
I got a sweet email as well.
So amazing, am I right? (Especially amazing that these people actually took it off Facebook (which I hate) and contacted me in other ways (which I love).
By putting a different attitude into the world, I got wonderful things directed toward me. It was lovely.
Perhaps Cory Booker is right that we should just be want to receive… It looks like it comes back to us!
I didn’t even do anything. I just honestly wanted to be kind. I wanted someone to ask for something. But instead, kindness just came at me. Pa-pow! People can really be amazing.