I’m grateful this experience is rare for me at the Fudge Haus. A couple of days ago a man and woman with very grumpy faces walked into the Fudge Haus. Working solo, I shifted back and forth from the chocolate case to the register to serve customers as efficiently and kindly as I could amid a tiny rush (nothing like a Saturday before Christmas!).
When the man and woman reached the register, the woman barked at me, “You NEED more HELP!” I smiled at her and said, “It usually isn’t this busy.” Her reply, “It Is Today!” I smiled and said, “Yes, and thank you so much for your kind patience. Your kindness and patience make such a beautiful difference. I really appreciate you.” And I meant it from the deepest, most compassionate part of me, from the quiet contentment inside of me. Stunner of stunners, they both actually smiled at me and spoke no more words. I said, “Thank you! I wish you a beautiful day!” as they left the store.
My mind chattered some sassy things Thank God I did not say including:
OMG!! You are in a DELIGHTFUL CANDY STORE on a SUNDAY AFTERNOON!! THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST THING EVER! DO YOU KNOW HOW BLESSED YOUR LIFE IS RIGHT NOW?!?! You are Not in the ER! You are NOT in a courtroom sitting next to your lawyer! You are not on the phone calling the police because some BS has just gone down! You are Not in a house with a Flooded Basement! You are Not at the Vet holding your dog for the last time!! OMG!! YOU ARE SO BLESSED!!”
Then I realized the voice in my head was talking to me–LOL.
Then later in the afternoon, two women purchased some chocolates. The one woman had to leave quickly before her transaction was complete to use the public restroom at the restaurant. The woman still standing at the counter let me know her friend has stage four ovarian cancer. She shared so many harrowing details of her friend’s life-threatening journey with cancer. I listened deeply from my heart and being. I let her know I’d pray for her friend.
When the woman returned and completed her transaction, I wished both of them a beautiful day. They thanked me and left.
I’m learning that most people ache to be deeply seen, heard, valued, cherished, and loved –even the grumpy, mean, scared, entitled ones. I’ve been learning this for a lifetime and gaining an even keener awareness of this yearning while being blessed to work at the Fudge Haus.
I wish you presence in this moment to realize just how beautiful your life actually is even when you are doing all those hard, crazy, brave things that you did not think you would ever have to do like wait in a long line at the Candy Store for your chocolates with a body that can eat chocolates or calling the police because your cat got caught in the sewer or because you Don’t have to be at the Cancer Clinic right at the moment.
Whoever you might encounter today, may you know you are them and they are you. Most of us yearn to be deeply seen, heard, valued, cherished, and loved.
May you be someone who sees, listens, values, cherishes, and loves the people you encounter, especially the grumpy ones. As my son would say, “Mom, they need your love the most!”
You are loved more than you can even imagine. You matter. Your loving kindness matters. Your compassion and mercy for yourself and others matters.
Dear Vinod, Thank you so much for your kind reflections and meaningful insights, Vinod. Yes. Sometimes people don’t seem to have time to listen, yet when we do listen to one another deeply, compassionately, curiously, we learn so much about being human and belonging to one another. One of my many wishes for our world right now-for us to listen, really listen to one another. I appreciate you very much and your good wishes. With much gratitude, Laura
Lovely thoughts penned down and shared. I would treat those people lucky, who come in contact with public to get a chance to know them , and serve them . Yes people are eager to tell stories, but in this VUCA world who has the time to listen. It’s a boon for them to find a perfect listener.
Admire the post as touching heart.
Best wishes