Day #3: The Opportunity

Today I had a minor epiphany.

Rather than a light bulb moment, I guess it was a flashlight moment.

After having a near nervous breakdown yesterday when I wouldn't allow myself to be mean at work, I thought about the quote I first poster when I started this whole project.

"Wherever there is a human being there is an opportunity for kindness" ~ Seneca.

I realized that I wasn't taking advantage of the opportunities this project offers me. I work with the public. I have a chance everyday to have a kind interaction with someone. It might be the only moment like that they get that day.

And here I was bitching about it.

I decided to suck it up and smile.

(I also decided to eat about a pound of chocolate to buoy my mood.)

I found myself checking in on my own thoughts. It was amazing to me how many times a day I think nasty things.

"Ew, look at the way she's dressed."
"Wow, way to control your kids."
"Maybe if you weren't stupid..."

Why do I allow this much negativity to reside inside my mind? How do I have any happiness at all with all of this going on within me?

FRIEND: You're starting to sound like one of those people I hate.
ME: Scientologists?
FRIEND: Nice people.

Wow, it's working!

FRIEND: Pretty soon you're going to be boring.
ME: Do you really need to talk about people in order to be interesting?
FRIEND: What else is there to talk about?
ME: Ideas.
FRIEND: Like what?
ME: Um...

Um...

ME: I'll think of something.
FRIEND: Can we at least talk about how stupid Scientologists are?
ME: Sorry, kid. It's against the rules.
FRIEND: It's like you don't want us to be friends anymore.

Hmm, what can you talk about if you don't talk about people?

I guess I'll explore that one...tomorrow.

I'll look at it as another opportunity.