Yesterday I went to the Credit Union, and the teller, who appeared to be about 25 years old, asked me an unexpected question. I had expected to hear "How are you?" Instead he said, "Are you having a good day?"
I was, and I told him so. He replied, rather unassumingly, "So am I." And I thought how unusual for him to offer that to me without my asking first how his day was going. I thought to myself, "What a lovely exchange."
He went on to say "When you're having a good day, I'm having a good day." And I felt as if I was watching a replay of a great movie line. I noticed myself getting slightly cynical and wondered if he was reciting a script from his job training.
I left wondering if he was being genuine or only playing out his training. I noticed my mind getting more narrow.
Today I told the story to someone and she replied, "Yes! I used to be a grocery store clerk, and if the customers were having a good day, I had a good day. The teller at the credit union was being sincere."
How readily my friend took the high road. How readily I got skeptical.
Where do I take the high road with my body and my practice? Where do I run towards cynicism in order to get smaller and supposedly safe? And you?
