Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The day that I chose NOT to be nice



I know that I talk about embracing each moment a lot, even the bad ones... And I really believe that.. Some days it's easier to do than others though. I share this day with you, to show that for all my good intentions. Sometimes I don't follow my own advice.

Today started out horribly. No particular reason, it's just how I woke up. Normally I wake up, pretty happy for a new day. Today was not such a day. I woke up grouchy and lonely and that kind of made me angry. Now normally I would try and count my blessings, be grateful for the amazing life that I actually have. Today I wanted no part of that. All I saw was the negative, I saw myself in the worse possible light.. 
Some people kindly refer to me as a "Nice guy", and that normally is a compliment for which I am grateful.. But today it actually stung in my mind.. I didn't want to be a nice guy.. Nice guys don't drive cool cars, or take vacations in Cuba every winter.. Nice guys don't get the girl...  And in my foul, sour mood.. I was determined that Today.. I would NOT be a "Nice guy"... Not today, I would be anything but that. This is what happened:

Shortly after getting up and making that monumental decision, I heard from my Step Dad, who is about 1000 years old.. He needed help moving something.. Well not being nice and being a total jerk are 2 different things. Of course I helped him out. My Mom called next, I may have been in a foul mood, but she is the only Mom I have.. so we chatted about a couple of things and she went about her day... Ok. Now I could stop being nice. I was about to take a shower for work, when the neighbour knocked on the door and needed a hand moving a washer...We got that moved smoothly between the 2 of us.
Showered and having left for work..I could finally start to leave the niceness behind me. The Universe seemed to be conspiring against me because as I was driving I saw this Elderly woman, she had been pulling one of those two wheel carts that they use to carry her groceries.. and it had somehow fallen over...Perfect opportunity to ignore her.. yeah right. I pulled over and helped her load up and get back on her way.. and as she was about to leave she gave me a big smile and thanked me for being "Such a nice man"...
I arrived at work and the residents in the nursing home have no idea that I am having a bad day.. and they don't need to. So I did my job as I always do. I did care, I sang, I told jokes.. I tried to make their day brighter.

While I was doing that I received some texts from a very cool friend sending me reasons to smile(how cool is that)..

On my way home my Sister, who is also my best friend in the world sent me a text as she'd had a rough day needed to vent. She would cut her arm off for me if she thought I could use it.. I wasn't about to say no. We had a nice chat.
That was pretty much my day... The day that I chose not to be nice.

I don't write this to show what a great guy I am.. That's not the point.

I'm writing this because I am so grateful for my amazing friends who somehow know when I need a smile.. and I am grateful for those opportunities we get each day to be nice to each other.

If I had followed through on my plan this morning, I can only imagine how I would feel about myself tonight.

True, I may never visit Cuba, I may never have a really cool car.. and who knows, I may never get the girl. I dare say though that what I do end up with is much more important than any of that.. I get to like.. No love who I see in the mirror...and that is good enough for me..


Peace Kiddies 

PS.. Next day add... I know perfectly wonderfully nice people have cool cars and take awesome vacations.. I just woke up with the "Grumpies" :o)

5 comments:

  1. You know, it is kind of a secret but now and again, good guys do win, get the girl, have fun, and have this warm, fuzzy feeling inside which most don't get! Don't change matey, you make the world a better place, even if no one else realises it!

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  2. The world is a better place because of you. Well... my little part of the world is. *hug* :)

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  3. Thank you both... Nathan, Definitely going to ride this out because it feels pretty darn good..
    Anon.. Thank you Dear.. {{HUG}} Right back :o)

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  4. Nice Guys are the Best and while some think you finish last in this world..you will always be #1 to me and those who love you.
    Thanks for being a nice guy!!!!

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  5. {{Insert huge smile here}} Thank You Grover :o)

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