My better half and I went on a short trip this past weekend. It took a full day of travel due to a stop over of two hours. We used the carry on option to save money and frustration awaiting bags at the baggage carousel at our final destination. So this meant we were very tired from carrying all the stuff around to each terminal. We were tired and sore, and after hearing the boarding gate changed to the other end of the terminal, we were a bit grouchy.
With this reference to my frame of mind, and looking around at each person, who most likely was in a similar mind set, one could absolutely see the worst of people during these times. It really doesn't take much imagination to realize this as fact. I was looking around expecting the worst behavior imaginable, from so many tired, weary, sore and probably hangry people, and of course I was seeing what I expected to see, until I noticed something.
At the end of our bumpy flight, luggage shifted a bit in the overhead bins. A gentleman, a bit short in stature, found it difficult to retrieve his luggage. Another person noticing his struggle, just as simple and as natural as could be, helped them retrieve it. They weren't expecting anything from their action. They were only interested at the time, in helping this struggling person out.
This one simple act was so precious. Something so small it could have gone unnoticed. Yet, with my current mindset, this was like a candle in the darkness. I struggled for a minute to find a word for it.
I decided, "if" I could find a word for what ever that was, that could shift my perspective to a brighter and more optimistic one, this word would be my favorite word.
I would use this word as a sort of touchstone. When I found myself expecting ugliness of others, I would use this word as a focus, to sort of shift back to center, to a frame of mind where I could see life as precious, and to a place where I can see the good effects we can have on each other.
So far I have come up with the word GRACE...
