Who Peed In Everyone's Cereal This Week?

Have you ever had one of those days or weeks where it seems that anyone and everyone you cross paths with is in such a terrible mood?  Well, I happen to be experiencing that this week and I honestly can't figure out if it's just a big ole coincidence, or if someone out there in the city has actually peed in everyone's morning cereal?  I'm starting to think that it has to be the second one, because since I've been in (or was in) a pretty good mood, it has to come down to the fact that I don't eat cereal for breakfast.

In all seriousness, though, I've had strangers slam doors in my face and I've had others who don't even batter an eye lash, let alone utter so much as a thank you, while I patiently stand at the entrance for thirty seconds holding the door open for them.

The majority of my co-workers have put their heads down as they pass me in the hallway or the lunch room making me feel like I'm imaginary, and even the ones I'm close with just seem really "off".  Drivers seem more irritable and impatient than normal, and a little thing known as customer service seems to have completely disappeared.
 

Even my morning coffee routine has been less than enjoyable.  I mean, when I get my coffee I don't expect any chit chat, but I do expect a "hello", or at the very least, the basic "that will be $1.70". But, when they just stand there, staring at me with such a crooked face waiting for me to pay and then slide my coffee across the counter without saying anything, well that just makes me want to hand my coffee back over and tell them that they obviously need it more than me. 

I try not to let little things like that bring me down, but sometimes I find I can't help it.  Like did I really deserve getting the finger yesterday afternoon as you flew past me because I didn't see the light turn green right away?

How many times have you started your day off feeling pretty great, when all of a sudden it started to go downhill after interacting with someone who was in a bad mood?

You know, I truly believe that our moods are contagious. I believe that you can lift someone up just as quickly as you can bring them down. I believe that a small gesture can instantly brighten someones day, while an act of rudeness can quickly morph others into a state of unhappiness. We all have the ability to change someones mood, and when I actually stop and think about that, it's both pretty amazing and pretty powerful.  We all have a choice, and it's completely and entirely up to us. 

 

Now, I don't want to give anyone a false impression around here because I don't always prance around with a smile on my face, and believe me when I say that sometimes I would rather smack someone than actually be nice to them. But I always, always, always try to be pleasant and courteous to others and have consideration for them, regardless of the kind of day or week it is that I'm having.  In fact, I've never really understood because I've always felt like it actually requires more effort to be rude to someone than to actually be nice to them.

 

So, with that said, if there's anything you take away from all of this today, it's that it never hurts anyone to smile a little more and it's probably best to stay away from eating cereal for a few days.  Okay?