I am a cheerful-happy-glass-half-full person - or so I tell myself. "It is not what happens to you, it is your reaction to what happened which matters" I know all that - as a matter of fact I often preach that.
Let me recount what happened today.
I left work around 2:30 - I had one last gift to buy. I went to a shopping plaza where just getting into the parking lot took forever. I started to get irritated. Why am I doing this? Why did we start celebrating Christmas? I am a Hindu for crying out loud - I don't need to be part of this madness that Christmas has become. If I was going to adopt Christmas, why couldn't I adopt the non-commercial aspect of it?
Well, I make it into the store after finding the last ever parking spot way at the end. I roam around and it is a madhouse in there as well. Apparently there are many others who have a few last thing left to do. After wandering around for a while, I finally find a perfect thing. I am happy. The line at the cash register wasn't bad. I come out and the sun peaks out of the clouds for just one brief moment to smile at me. It is warm compared to the past sub zero days. Life is looking good. It is Christmas Eve. I decide I like Christmas after all.
It takes forever to get out of the parking lot again - but whatever. I hum along the Christmas songs on the radio. I go to mom's house to pick up my daughters. I come home, bring shopping bags in and proceed to show my husband the perfect thing I found when I notice - to my horror - that the perfect thing that I had found is not in the shopping bag. I am livid - I hate this holiday.
I call the store and customer service tells me that yes they have my item and I can pick it up whenever I want. That's not enough, I want sympathy - didn't I just spend forever in traffic to get to and from the stupid store. I tell them I am coming now. They say that they are closing in 45 minutes. I tell them that they better not close until I get there. They tell me that they are sorry, but they will close promptly at 6. I tell them if they close before I get there, I will be extremely upset.
I make it to the store with 14 minutes to spare. I stand in line at the customer service counter. The girl working there must be the girl that I spoke with - she looks very tired. I feel bad about our earlier conversation.
After waiting in line for 10 minutes my turn comes. She gives me my item without a smile, she wishes me obligatory 'Happy Holidays' and I leave after muttering something.
As I walk out the store to the car, I pass a cake shop that has many lighted miniature houses in the window - sort of like a miniature Christmas village. It is beautiful. I feel happy looking at it.
As I drive home I think about my reaction to what happened - whatever happened to the cheerful spirit that I believe I posses? It wasn't the fault of that girl at customer service who answered the phone. I can't really be too mad at the cashier who forgot to bag my item - she probably has been working non-stop since that morning.
In retrospect, I was amazed at my reaction. What happened to my cheery self? Exactly when did I turn into a grouch?
I guess everyone is entitled to few bad moments, right?
Happy Holidays All - may you be patient with people around you :)
Let me recount what happened today.
I left work around 2:30 - I had one last gift to buy. I went to a shopping plaza where just getting into the parking lot took forever. I started to get irritated. Why am I doing this? Why did we start celebrating Christmas? I am a Hindu for crying out loud - I don't need to be part of this madness that Christmas has become. If I was going to adopt Christmas, why couldn't I adopt the non-commercial aspect of it?
Well, I make it into the store after finding the last ever parking spot way at the end. I roam around and it is a madhouse in there as well. Apparently there are many others who have a few last thing left to do. After wandering around for a while, I finally find a perfect thing. I am happy. The line at the cash register wasn't bad. I come out and the sun peaks out of the clouds for just one brief moment to smile at me. It is warm compared to the past sub zero days. Life is looking good. It is Christmas Eve. I decide I like Christmas after all.
It takes forever to get out of the parking lot again - but whatever. I hum along the Christmas songs on the radio. I go to mom's house to pick up my daughters. I come home, bring shopping bags in and proceed to show my husband the perfect thing I found when I notice - to my horror - that the perfect thing that I had found is not in the shopping bag. I am livid - I hate this holiday.
I call the store and customer service tells me that yes they have my item and I can pick it up whenever I want. That's not enough, I want sympathy - didn't I just spend forever in traffic to get to and from the stupid store. I tell them I am coming now. They say that they are closing in 45 minutes. I tell them that they better not close until I get there. They tell me that they are sorry, but they will close promptly at 6. I tell them if they close before I get there, I will be extremely upset.
I make it to the store with 14 minutes to spare. I stand in line at the customer service counter. The girl working there must be the girl that I spoke with - she looks very tired. I feel bad about our earlier conversation.
After waiting in line for 10 minutes my turn comes. She gives me my item without a smile, she wishes me obligatory 'Happy Holidays' and I leave after muttering something.
As I walk out the store to the car, I pass a cake shop that has many lighted miniature houses in the window - sort of like a miniature Christmas village. It is beautiful. I feel happy looking at it.
As I drive home I think about my reaction to what happened - whatever happened to the cheerful spirit that I believe I posses? It wasn't the fault of that girl at customer service who answered the phone. I can't really be too mad at the cashier who forgot to bag my item - she probably has been working non-stop since that morning.
In retrospect, I was amazed at my reaction. What happened to my cheery self? Exactly when did I turn into a grouch?
I guess everyone is entitled to few bad moments, right?
Happy Holidays All - may you be patient with people around you :)
Comments
I love being desi...since desis are very hospitable and generous people and usually it doesn't involve gifts.
especially on occasions like festivals, birthdays, holidays, etc, when our expectation of making everthing go perfect goes even a little haywire, we at times over react...
so its ok...the best part is ur day ended well..! wish u had posted a pic of that miniature christmas village...it sounds so fairyland like...would hv loved to see it...! Best wishes for the festive season...!
I hope you enjoyed your celebration in the end (no matter what you are celebrating). Happy holidays!
Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
A Belated Merry Chrismas and Happy New Year to you too!
xx Lori
IHM: will try :)
Lori Ann: Even Dalai Lama!!! - now I don't feel so bad :)
am glad you had a good christmas,wishing you a grand new year.
Check the updated post - a quiz that you have to host now!
This year I decided to have a smallish Christmas celebration at home.. part of my childhood wish to celebrate every major celebration from all religions and cultures.. and yes, I forgot the smallest but most important item at the counter.. Surprisingly I wasn't billed for it and it got quite late when I went looking for it that I realized this.. And yes, to all those tired faces at the store wishing a customary 'Happy Holidays!'.
Anita - thanks - couldn't find the quiz.
Kay - nice to meet you :)