Today I am grateful for surprises. I know not all surprises are necessarily welcome. Some, like unexpected financial woes or health problems, jump up and bite us in the butt, surprising us, but not making us happy about it. If that happens give yourself another surprise to replace the negative one. It works.
The surprise I’m talking about today is like an encounter we had yesterday while waiting in a long line to see the movie “Monument Men” in Florida. (FYI-Go! It’s a great story and very well done!) We had taken a wrong turn in the rain and missed the noon movie. Then the 12:10 movie was sold out. As we waited in line, snaking closer and closer to the ticket counter, we chatted up the people behind us. The two women were planning on seeing “Labor Day” and it was starting at 12:10.
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It was already a little after that, so I said, “Seriously? You’re going to miss the beginning. Go in front of us. Our movie doesn’t start until 12:45 and we have plenty of time.” Of course all who were with me agreed and I knew they would, which is why I didn’t check with them. The two women were thrilled. While we were all still waiting, I said to one of them, “You know I’m going to eavesdrop to make sure you’re going to see “Labor Day”. She joked about how they were really seeing our movie and were taking the last two seats. Ha Ha. The one liner’s snapped between us like a package of loose rubber bands in a room of fourth grade boys. It was a blast. We shoulda been at Comedy Central, just ask us.
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Soon it was the women’s turn to get tickets. I fired a few barbs. So did the they. It was fun, spontaneous and easy. As soon as they had their tickets one turned to go in, the other headed straight for me. She handed me a ticket to our 12:45 movie and said, “Here is one ticket for you. Now you only need to buy three!” Then she was off before I could respond with more than a lame “thank you, that wasn’t necessary.”
Acts of kindness feel great, whether giving or receiving them. They are the best kind of surprise.
