i have so loved moving pebbles these few days.  but as i have read back, i am realizing that the only person really affected by the stones i have carried so far is me.  which isn’t a huge surprise.  i definitely love taking care of number one!

BUT i have decided that this journey needs more moving stones for OTHER PEOPLE.  allegedly, i am someone who serves other people.  but so far, my 31 days of doing small things doesn’t seem to be very OUTWARD facing.

so, on day six, i thought i should turn my eyes toward them.  the problem with this plan is that the first place is stopped on this day was walmart.  every single person there seemed to be the MOST annoying person humanly imaginable.  every. single.  person.  the guy who parked but then left his door open and blocked the only close space.  the 750 people in line at the moneygram counter who didn’t seem to understand how moneygram worked or that usually when you are going somewhere to get money you should likely bring your identification.  also annoying?  the people in the walmart corporation who ensure that the t-shirt sizes in no way relate to actual sizing systems.  even the annoying automated voice at the self checkout who seems unable to feel anything i put in the bag and then demands that i do what i have already done.

none of these people made me want to move even a pebble for them.  they made me want to continue to buy eyes lips & face items as therapy.  and silly owls sweaters.  the retail therapy could have been worse but there was really NOTHING i wanted there.

but i made a deal to do a small thing EVERY day for thirty one.   but it was hard to find one that i was willing to do.

so, here’s what i did.  i decided that i needed to STOP thinking terrible things about people.  i needed to stop immediately making the worst assumptions about everyone and try to see what might be happening to them.  maybe those people in front of me really DON’T know how moneygram works.  maybe they have not been at amscot at 9 pm on a friday night so do not have the scars to show that i have.  (to note:  sending money through ANY money transfer company is the most annoying thing ever.  western union used to refuse to send money for non-profit projects to an employee to whom i spoke many times a week “for your own protection.”)  maybe the guy with the door really didn’t think of it.  maybe he didn’t realize how few spots there were.

and it was good.  even throughout the day, when cricket would freak out, i would imagine being five and not knowing how i would know when it was my turn at ice skating.  especially if you love to follow the rules.  it would be unnerving.  would i be sob worthy?  not at 38 thankfully, but maybe it would be.  maybe it was worth just a comforting rather than a sharp word.

so, it was a worthy pebble.  and it even let me see a little more beauty.  see how cute the little ones are.  see the smile on the moneygram person’s face when i was pleasant rather than short.  so, while serving others, number one was not left out.  moving the pebble from one place in my head to another was well worth the effort.

i adore you.