The other day I went shopping with my sister and as we waited in line to check out at one of the stores, I realized a had an extra coupon for 20 percent off anything in the store. I had already given Ash one since she was the only one buying anything from this store, so I thought I might as well give the other one away since I would not be coming back the next day before the coupon expired.
That's when this couple walked up behind us in line.
I instantly thought, "Oh, I'll just give the coupon to them," but then something stopped me. I started thinking and wondering if I should or if they would think I was weird for talking to them. It took me a minute before deciding that it honestly didn't matter because I was just trying to be nice and if I didn't, I knew I would regret not asking if they wanted it. I mean it would've just gone to waste.
So, I turned around and asked if they'd like the coupon.
The reaction I got was nothing like I imagined. I could not have picked a better couple to give it to.
When I told them I wasn't going to use it and asked if they would like it, they thanked me and said that I just made their day because they were worried they weren't even going to have enough to buy the one shirt the guy needed. They thought they would have just the exact amount of change to pay for it and that now with the coupon they were able to buy it and not have to worry about not having enough money.
Wow.
Then, as we waited in line, I overheard the lady telling her husband that she felt truly blessed and that I had really just made her day.
I never thought that would have happened. I honestly couldn't have decided to ask a better couple if they would like the coupon.
They made my day.
And they made me think about using my first instinct. As soon as they walked up behind us, I knew I should give the coupon to them, but when I started thinking about what others would think, I reconsidered.
I should never waste my time considering what others deem acceptable or weird. And why should I think turning around and asking them a simple question would be abnormal? I just feel like everyone is so caught up in their fast paced lifestyles, not many people are taking the time to just talk to people anymore, even if you don't know them.
I am not trying to say I don't do the same thing. For example, being home this summer has brought along many awkward experiences. I didn't live at home last summer, so I didn't have to worry about how to react when you pass an old high school classmate or teacher. But this summer I have had to deal with exactly that. It's awkward! I mean, do you just say hi, stop and talk or completely ignore them because that's probably what happened in high school anyway. I don't know the right answer, but I like to at least say hi, to most people anyway. There are a select few people who I turn down an aisle early, just to avoid contact with them.
I think the couple behind me in line reminded me of one of the posts I wrote earlier in my blog. The goal I had set for myself to just say hi to a random person each day because not only does it make my day more eventful, it makes me happier and it could also make their day as well.
So, hello there! I hope you enjoy this beautiful day!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
The end of summer, the beginning of fall
Where has time gone?
It feels like just yesterday I started my internship and summer seemed like it would have endless possibilities. Now, I have just three days until I finish with my internship and summer is basically over.
The funny thing about it is, I didn't come up with any big goals or plans for the summer. I just wanted to relax this summer, since I never had a moment to relax when I had worked at Cedar Point last year.
The number one goal for the summer: plant a garden. I love working outside in the sunshine and being able to go out and see my flowers each day brings a sense of pride and relaxation for me. So, as soon as I recovered from my first ever bout of strep throat at the very beginning of the summer, I went out and started pulling weeds to plant my beautiful garden.
I wanted some tomatoes for my garden because I love eating them, but I didn't plan on choosing these unnaturally large tomato plants that overtook my garden. They were lovely at first, growing slowly and straight. Then, I walked outside and the tomato plants must have doubled in size over night! They had started covering flowers in the row in front of them and they sprouted out in every direction, showing the round tomato cages I had placed around them just in time that they didn't care what way I wanted them to grow.
I thought I might save my flowers from the shadow of the gargantuan tomato plants by moving them out front, but that only caused more harm because they definitely had no chance after I took them out of the ground. Oops!
I was doing really well all summer. I watered my garden every night and they all looked relatively healthy, besides the unnatural growth of the tomato plants that I'm not sure is healthy, but at least they were green with red tomatoes, which is more than I can say now.
One weekend away from my beautiful garden has doomed it. All my plants are brown and now I see no hope at recovering them. At least, I planted a garden this summer, I never said it had to last all summer.
From there, my goals went on to involve preparing for school (sending transcripts, filling out scholarship applications), nothing to strenuous, but still productive. Easily, I fulfilled all my goals except one, one that I am still trying to accomplish in my four days left at home. I need to transfer my iTunes library on to my laptop from my home computer!
Sure, it could be easy to do, if I had purchased most of music from iTunes and had put them on CDs just in case they don't transfer correctly. Of course, I had not put half my music on CDs and unfortunately most of my music has not been purchased on iTunes.
My wide range of music tastes had caused me to put all my CDs from my childhood on my iPod and the plethora of CDs I have asked for since. I could speed up the process and leave those off, but I still like listening to Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls when I work out, or more likely feel like reliving my 90s' "let's make a dance to every song" days.
Then I also have a handful of CDs that I borrowed from friends to put on my iPod. I wouldn't want to lose those songs either, so I now need to put those songs on my laptop by hand also.
For a person who loves music, the thought of losing any of my music absolutely pains me! So of my long list of five goals this summer, I still haven't managed to accomplish one.
Even if I don't get around to finishing that last goal, I am still ready for the end of summer. The cool temperatures of late have made me dream of fall and the return to football! I am so ready to sit around on Sundays in front of my TV and watch every game I have access to, and I may actually be able to watch the Cowboys win a couple this season without having to run off to a dining hall with TVs since I don't have a stupid roommate who turns of the TV when I am clearly watching it! (I know Arielle will be sitting right beside me probably laughing her butt of at me when I start talking to the players, yes I do that.)
And while I can't wait to start at my new school, I know that I will miss my forest at Miami and being on campus during the fall at its most beautiful time during the fall. I'm sure BG will bring plenty for me to look at though, if I have a chance to look around if I ever figure out my way around a new campus.
It feels like just yesterday I started my internship and summer seemed like it would have endless possibilities. Now, I have just three days until I finish with my internship and summer is basically over.
The funny thing about it is, I didn't come up with any big goals or plans for the summer. I just wanted to relax this summer, since I never had a moment to relax when I had worked at Cedar Point last year.
The number one goal for the summer: plant a garden. I love working outside in the sunshine and being able to go out and see my flowers each day brings a sense of pride and relaxation for me. So, as soon as I recovered from my first ever bout of strep throat at the very beginning of the summer, I went out and started pulling weeds to plant my beautiful garden.
I wanted some tomatoes for my garden because I love eating them, but I didn't plan on choosing these unnaturally large tomato plants that overtook my garden. They were lovely at first, growing slowly and straight. Then, I walked outside and the tomato plants must have doubled in size over night! They had started covering flowers in the row in front of them and they sprouted out in every direction, showing the round tomato cages I had placed around them just in time that they didn't care what way I wanted them to grow.
I thought I might save my flowers from the shadow of the gargantuan tomato plants by moving them out front, but that only caused more harm because they definitely had no chance after I took them out of the ground. Oops!
I was doing really well all summer. I watered my garden every night and they all looked relatively healthy, besides the unnatural growth of the tomato plants that I'm not sure is healthy, but at least they were green with red tomatoes, which is more than I can say now.
One weekend away from my beautiful garden has doomed it. All my plants are brown and now I see no hope at recovering them. At least, I planted a garden this summer, I never said it had to last all summer.
From there, my goals went on to involve preparing for school (sending transcripts, filling out scholarship applications), nothing to strenuous, but still productive. Easily, I fulfilled all my goals except one, one that I am still trying to accomplish in my four days left at home. I need to transfer my iTunes library on to my laptop from my home computer!
Sure, it could be easy to do, if I had purchased most of music from iTunes and had put them on CDs just in case they don't transfer correctly. Of course, I had not put half my music on CDs and unfortunately most of my music has not been purchased on iTunes.
My wide range of music tastes had caused me to put all my CDs from my childhood on my iPod and the plethora of CDs I have asked for since. I could speed up the process and leave those off, but I still like listening to Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls when I work out, or more likely feel like reliving my 90s' "let's make a dance to every song" days.
Then I also have a handful of CDs that I borrowed from friends to put on my iPod. I wouldn't want to lose those songs either, so I now need to put those songs on my laptop by hand also.
For a person who loves music, the thought of losing any of my music absolutely pains me! So of my long list of five goals this summer, I still haven't managed to accomplish one.
Even if I don't get around to finishing that last goal, I am still ready for the end of summer. The cool temperatures of late have made me dream of fall and the return to football! I am so ready to sit around on Sundays in front of my TV and watch every game I have access to, and I may actually be able to watch the Cowboys win a couple this season without having to run off to a dining hall with TVs since I don't have a stupid roommate who turns of the TV when I am clearly watching it! (I know Arielle will be sitting right beside me probably laughing her butt of at me when I start talking to the players, yes I do that.)
And while I can't wait to start at my new school, I know that I will miss my forest at Miami and being on campus during the fall at its most beautiful time during the fall. I'm sure BG will bring plenty for me to look at though, if I have a chance to look around if I ever figure out my way around a new campus.
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