Today, I had to make a long trip on slippery roads to correct the error of a major corporation and get money to a stranded individual. It had been a day where anyone who could have taken responsibility for a situation chose not to do so and thus the trek in the snow. Murphy’s Law was in effect everywhere one turned.
Winter or not, one of my favorite “splurge” beverages is a Coffee Coolata®, the product of an old doughnut (think long standing) store. As I completed this day of challenges, having at least solved the problem at hand momentarily, I saw the neon orange and brown sign of this familiar coffee shop. There was a hesitation, though.
I have a history with this particular store. About two months ago, I ordered my favorite drink and as I paid and put it in the cup holder, I noticed that it was much darker than the usual color of this concoction of coffee, cream and crushed ice. Having been reassured by the clerk that all was well and that they were “just running a little darker than usual today,” I headed for home.
Once on the highway, I took a sip of the drink and almost choked on the taste. Oh well, no splurge drink today. Once at the house, I thought I should notify the store, just in case the problem was more significant than the taste. The manager took the call reluctantly, made no apology, offered no acknowledgement, let alone a refund and in general acted as if I had been a great interruption in his otherwise busy day. Well that will be it on that store, at least for a goodly while, I thought to myself.
Today, hesitantly, I approached and ordered. It was dusk as the beverage was placed at eye level before me. Unmistakably, very dark, yet again, I told the unsuspecting clerk that I must refuse the beverage. She offered to make another. I thanked her and said, “No, thanks.” I told my story. It made no difference. I would have to pay whether I drank the drink or not. The only option was talking to the manager. I almost paid and ran. Ok, one more chance.
As she approached, I was relieved. This manager listened, offered a refund for the first experience, offered a new beverage “on the house,” was genuinely sorry for both experiences and said she would test the machine as soon as possible. She cared. She treated me with respect, dignity and sincerity. Out of all the interactions I had had with people as high as regional managers in corporations today, this young woman was the only one who was grounded. I would trust her to manage people, stores and companies. She was very young and very present. (Yes, I plan to give her this article and send it to her supervisor and the CEO of the company.)
What is it that makes you want to go back to one restaurant and not another? (Or, one coffee store or another.)
The world never gives you permission to shine. Only love does that. I remember being a cocktail waitress and walking into work one night thinking, “Oh, I get it! They think this is a bar!” As A Course in Miracles student, I now saw it differently. “This isn’t a bar, and I’m not a waitress. That’s just an illusion. Every business is a front for a church, and I’m here to purify the thought forms, to minister to the children of God.” We can take our own lives seriously, regardless of whether or not anyone else does. No job really has any more potential impact on the planet than any other. We’re always impacting the world in which we live, through our presence, our energy, our interactions with others. The question is, what kind of impact are we having? (From: A Return to Love, Reflections on A Course in Miracles by Marianne Williamson.)
What impact does the last person who sees you on the way out of the crowded grocery store have on whether you dread or look forward to being there again?
Do they act as if you came to their store?
Are they talking about how much they hate their job, how boring it is or are they interested in you?
Is the counter clean or dirty?
Are your items handled as if they were precious or last week’s garbage?
It is my experience that it is the ground of being of individuals in each case that makes the difference.
What is it that makes some teachers inspired, dramatically effective, able to reach those perceived as unreachable and whose students achieve way beyond expectations?
A few years ago, I went back to Houston for a special reunion with my high school drama department. Our teacher was retiring, and ex-students of his from all over the country came to pay their respects. At the dinner, a lot of attention was given to the fact that many of Mr. Pickett’s students had gone on to become successful actors. But many of his students had gone on to become successful people, period. By teaching us the truth about acting, he taught us the truth about life. Once you know: 1. Leave your personal problems at the stage door; 2. Treat the material with honesty, dignity and without embellishment; 3. Show up fully no matter how many people are in the audience, then you know everything you need to know in order to have a powerful professional career. To know the real truth about anything is to know the truth about everything. In learning the principles of ministry, we learn the principles of success, regardless of what form our ministry takes. (From: A Return to Love, Reflections on A Course in Miracles by Marianne Williamson.)
Mr. Pickett was grounded, inspired, respectful, caring, loving and clear. There are two ways to do anything.
What is it that makes some counselors, therapists, psychiatrists and coaches brilliant, insightful beyond words and able to create environments where people capture or recapture a sense of their value in the world and set a bright course for the future? To them therapy isn’t a job, it is a calling. They love their patients, clients, customers, they see possibility in all people, strive to work themselves out of a job and know that in every second these people have the capacity to take charge of their own lives.
What’s your ground of being?
Who determines whether what you do really matters?
When do you make your decision on how you are going to be each day?
