Happiness and an Attitude Adjustment
If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? ~ Jesus Christ
We talk pretty consistently about how our happiness is mostly in our control, that whether a situation makes us happy or sad, or has no impact at all is determined by us, our attitudes and outlook on life. I have recently been reminded of this incredibly important lesson at all places, Taco Bell. You see at my local Taco Bell, a place I go a little bit too often I must admit, there is a kid there, probably in his late 20’s who is annoyingly nice. He’s the kind of guy who greets every customer who comes in with a, “hello my friend.” Asks everyone about their day, wanders around after you’re eating and asks you how everything is, you know a total bastard!
In reality he really did completely rub me the wrong way every time I walked in there. I didn’t know this kid but here he was asking about my day, asking how my food was, it seemed weirdly personal and totally got under my skin. It took some time, there he was every time I went in, and now that he had come to recognize me and knew a little about me, my attitude slowly began to change. I went from annoyance, to acceptance, to actual seeing him as a human being, not just my Taco Bell annoyance.
I was thinking about this the other day, I’ve been eating better and not visiting Taco Bell so often and he remarked immediately that he hadn’t seen me in some time and asked if I was doing well. He seemed to generally be concerned I hadn’t been around. I sat there eating my lunch, watching him greet and cheerily talk to people and thought about how ridiculous I had been.
Here was a young man, who was generally nice to people including me, he was making the best out of working at Taco Bell and this annoyed me somehow and that was ridiculous and all about me and not him. My attitude had already changed significantly about him and instead of being an annoyance his actions actually made me smile the other day. The only thing that had changed was my attitude. That attitude adjustment took a net annoyance and turned it into a smile a net increase my happiness. So have a happy day my friends and remember whether or not it is a happy day is really up to you. ~ Rev Kane
And in the end, the love you get is equal to the love you give ~ The Beatles
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