in a convenient store, late into the night, the wife and I encountered a particularly angry sales girl. she tore into us for pushing the items too close to the edge when she accidently knocked one onto the floor. she also asked us to hurry up when we were going to pay, something that bothered my wife then she snapped at the lady. i did my best to diffuse to the situation, but not until my wife was irritated and the saleslady seemed besides herself. on the way out, as the wife calmed, i did my best to explain what i had just seen.

at this hour, in that situation, nobody wants to be working. her situation is already bad, add to this an idea of what her minimum wage job could allow her to go home to in this expensive city. perhaps she also has a sick family member at home, a strained back that is bothering her, or simply she had one of the many days we all have when happiness does not find us. in some way, her actions can be justified by having empathy of where she is coming from. best to get out of her situation, let her be, and try not to bring her any further misery by reacting.

we are reflections of what we go through. an exhausting day has us speaking less, averting our eyes show a lack of confidence or shame that might have come about from a myriad of situations thrust upon us. to be sympathetic and reactive to people we come across goes a long way in making strangers feel at ease. and we should do this, for when they enter our attention, they are our universe and we are part of them as my wife attested too when she left the store angry. just like we are gentle with a baby, or cautious with an animal, be aware that our actions affect those around us and those around us but those around us actions do not necessarily have to affect us.