Oh how people have changed when it comes to helping others without expectation of anything in return. To aid without anything other than kindness so as to not to watch a person struggle.
You must be wondering what has my ire up. And I will tell you, believe me I will. (If you saw me with head cocked to the side eyebrow raised as I said that you win for accurate imaginings)
Yesterday I was running my order to the back.
The area of the store where my section is located (hidden) is in the back corner by the bakery. That is to the right of the doors. To the left, is the milk cooler. With a bank of 8-10 doors. (I cannot quite envision in my head how many doors there are) Total shelf height is probably 6′ or a little more.
As I came up, there was a lady (I got ‘yelled’ at yesterday when telling this story to co-workers because I called her a little old lady-she was short, and maybe 65-70 years old) and she came up maybe to just about my shoulders, maybe a tad shy of that. Behind her stood a youngish man wearing his fancy shoes and suit pants, hounds tooth checked overcoat.
I am watching her practically crawling into the cooler, standing on tip toes plucking at the milk on the top shelf. Poking at bottom, trying to tilt it. All the while Mr. I am Too Important stood there watching her. WATCHING HER STRUGGLE TO GET THE MILK CARTON DOWN.
“Excuse me ma’am, would you like me to get that down for you?”
Just as I was asking my question the milk carton popped up and she grabbed it.
Turning to smile triumphantly at me she said:
I got it thank you. My exercise for the day!
I laughed as I walked around to the doors to the back. I cut eyed the ignorant jerk standing behind her. Had I not been in uniform I might have said something to him, or an under my breath aside that he could catch just on the periphery of his hearing.
I was telling this to a group of co-workers (containing the co-worker who ‘yelled’ at me while laughing) and one of them looked at me sharply. Which I thought was a little weird until she said:
Jay, I thought you said had you not been in uniform that you might have socked him.
Now that is a thought isn’t it?
The Wonderful and Wacky World of One Single Mom 
That’s one of the things that makes me the saddest these days. As a society, we seem to have lost a sense of common courtesy and kindness. I’m tall so I often help people in the supermarket if they look like they can’t reach something. Some call that a “random act of kindness”, and save it for those special days so they can brag about it on social media. I call it being a decent human being. Every day should be random act of kindness day, in my opinion. Sigh. Have a wonderful Friday, Jay-lyn.
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I was brought up that way. Say please and thank you. Hold the door for the person coming in behind you. Calling people sir or ma’am/miss. Saying Pardon me/excuse me if you knock into someone. It kills me to see how selfish people are becoming. That sense of the world owes me and I am going to be a rude jerk for all to see.
Have a wonderful weekend Michelle! As you might have guessed a wee sore spot for me.
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Kudos to you for being the kind of person who would offer to help. I have experienced this kind of reaction when offering to help anyone older than me sometimes. I think sometimes they want to prove to the world that they don’t need help, that they can still do everything themselves. I think offering to help is still good though in this situation, it lets them know you see them and respect them. You are a good person.
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Thank you so much. I also see it when I am packing their grocery bags. I will ask how heavy I can pack and they always say oh fill it up I can handle heavy still. That is when I gently tease them about coming out to find them on their backs unable to get up, like a turtle. They always laugh and assure me that will not happen. So far they have been right. 😊😊
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That’s the best way for you to handle it!
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Now let me share a different perspective from a very short middle aged person like myself. She might have been very independent and told the young man on more than one occasion that she liked to do things herself. You never know a person’s situation until you ask. ☺️
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There is independence and then there is being in the dairy cooler pressing on shelf. Thank goodness the wheels are locked or she might have caved in
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Yikes!
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Thanks for sharing this story about the importance of helping others without expectation of anything in return. It’s heartening to hear about moments of kindness and triumph like this.
~ Christopher
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