Some days unfold in unexpected ways, yet that shouldn’t excuse our emotional insensitivity towards the struggles of others.
One man found himself having a particularly rough morning, consumed by self-pity. After running errands in Liberty, Missouri, and feeling overwhelmed by his ever-growing to-do list, he was leaving a store when something caught his eye. He noticed a woman, likely in her 60s, sitting in her car engrossed in a book—and she was bald. As he drove out of the parking lot, an overwhelming urge struck him to turn around, go back inside the store, and buy her some flowers.
Despite feeling cranky and pressed for time, he decided to act on that impulse. He returned to the store and purchased a bouquet. Approaching the woman, he shared that he felt a “crazy urge” to bring her flowers, as if she “needed a smile.” To his surprise, she began to cry. As he drove past her car one last time, he glanced over and saw her in tears.
Things may not be as dire as they seem. Let’s strive to cultivate a positive aura that can illuminate the lives of those around us.