Is it really so difficult???

So... I'm going to take a little step onto the proverbial soap box. Forgive me. I hope you will agree with me on this one. Is it REALLY so hard to be nice to strangers??? I totally get that sometimes it's difficult to be nice to your crazy neighbor, or your smothering grandmother or mother, or whoever. I get it. Sometimes being nice can be hard. But is it so hard to be nice to that stranger walking into the store?

Today it is raining here in West Michigan. Frankly, the weather has been pretty *&$#^@ for the last week, lol. So I get it. Everyone is grumpy. But here's the thing... when there is a person walking in the rain, the person in a nice, dry, heated vehicle should wait. Now this did NOT happen to me. I was in my nice, dry, heated vehicle and I waited... while another car shot around me and splashed the pedestrian with rain water. Seriously?

Then I parked and went inside. I held the door for a couple of people. Not one thank you. It's okay... I mean, I do it because it's the right thing to do... not to make someone say thank you, right?

Then I said thank you to someone in the store and got "the look" like I was bothering the person. SERIOUSLY???

So at this point I'm thinking, man I really hope the sun comes out before winter. I mean, if people are acting like this NOW what will happen when it starts to... well.. the s word. I can't bring myself to say it folks, lol. And I got out to my car, pack up my groceries in the rain, and drove out of the parking lot. When I was got onto the main, busy road, there were people waiting to come out of a crowded parking lot. We were at a red light, so I stopped short and let a few people out when the light turned green. Not a single person waved, gestured or smiled a thank you.

You know, it's really hard to be nice when people aren't nice back. :( But I'm still trying. Honestly, I STRIVE to be that person that smiles and makes someone's day. I know sometimes I'm annoyingly perky (though I hate that word, I prefer energetic). But wouldn't you rather annoy someone with your happiness than bring down someone's good mood? So that is my challenge to you today. Be the person that smiles at a stranger. Smile at the homeless person sitting on the street instead of looking away. Open the door for someone that doesn't expect it. Smile at the cash register attendant and say thank you, even when you had to wait in line for 20 minutes. Because you never know what that smile will do. :)