Accentuate the Positive

I have been on a personal quest to eliminate teh negative from my life. Serenity now, serenity now.
As Kevin has mentioned, I have gotten good at dealing with Harry's temper tantrums (although TTV3 - that's temper tantrum version 3- seems to be more of a challenge). I have made attempts to ignore the frustrating adults in my life as well: friends who show up 20 minutes late for dinner, religious zealots that still seem to think they are good people, friends' spouses who read the paper during social brunch...Serenity now, serenity now.

But I keep getting blindsided! I come back from the rest room and find mild-mannered co-worker in a heated argument with another colleague over who will pay a bill...resulting in gay slurs from one. What gave you the idea anyone would be on your side there and agree that it's okay to call someone you barely know a fag, especially in a work environment?

Yesterday I made a pit stop at the dryer cleaners after working off my stress at the gym. Some obnoxious woman that sadly, looked similar to me in appearance, was going off on the woman behind the counter for not getting her husband's shirt clean enough, or understanding that he didn't EVER drink coffee or apparently go anywhere near it EVER so it couldn't have spilled on his shirt, especially since he NEVER takes his jacket off. I couldn't help but wonder if she would have taken the same tone if the woman behind the counter looked more like her. She was perfectly pleasant to me. I gave her an elevator smile. The cleaners gave me 10% off for having to listen to her.

Today at the Post Office I walked in as some rude gentleman who shared my skin color and khaki pants was insinuating to the Asisan woman behind the counter that the postal system would run more efficiently if she spoke English. I was able to then mail a package of birthday presents to Mia and Sophia and an envelope to my director in all of 30 seconds. She even asked me if I needed stamps. Somehow, I was able to understand her.

People can get rude. I know this. I have even been known to be nasty once or twice in my life. But didn't these people ever learn empathy? Or that racism, sexism, whatever-ism are not socially acceptable these days? I am tired of having to be around the negativity. A coffee stained shirt and a 10 minute wait for a letter are just not a big deal. There are bigger issues. Take a deep breath. Take a yoga class. Get off the caffeine!!! Be aware that just because people might look like, you, doesn't mean they agree with you! You are just making yourself look like an ass. If you want to say rude things about certain groups of people, like militant breast feeding stay at home moms, start a blog so you can make yourself look stupid quietly! And for God sake, don't assume everyone believes in Santa or the Easter bunny!