Love each day’s work; it’ll make it easier

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

“He created each individual to do a little job, to make their little

contribution to help others and perfect His creation.”

-- JOSEPH GIRZONE, from

“Joshua and the Children”

My legs were feeling tight on a recent walk, so I stopped briefly

to stretch in a parking lot. While stretching, I heard a car coming

my way.

I looked up and saw a white car pull into the spot nearest to me,

and it stopped just inches from me. I automatically stood up and

backed away. The driver waved at me and smiled in a way that

reassured me she had stopped and wasn’t coming up over the sidewalk

and into me.

After the woman left her car, she apologized for scaring me. I

laughed and thanked her, but joked that I knew the sidewalk would

stop her.

I recognized her from the market and said, “You are always so

friendly and helpful every time I come through your line, and I’ve

been behind some people who must have tried your patience. I really

appreciate you.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I especially appreciate your saying that

to me today. You’re right, a lot of people do seem to be in a hurry,

which reminds me, I’m late myself.”

I told her I would probably see her later and to have a good day.

“I’ll do my best,” she replied. “I’m tired, though, my son was

sick last night and I’m really late because I was stuck in incredible

traffic. But I have a whole day ahead of me and people in the market

to help.”

I complimented her on her positive attitude.

“I enjoy life and my job a lot more when I focus on the positive,”

She said. “It’s a much better way for me to live than to complain.”

She waved and headed off to work.

Later, I went to the bank and was helped by a delightful young

woman who greeted me with a smile. She asked how I was and how my

children were.

We chatted briefly while I completed my transaction. I told her I

was impressed that she remembered that I had two married daughters.

“I enjoy my job, and I enjoy my customers and getting to know

them,” she said.

That afternoon, I called a service technician to set up an

appointment and was pleasantly surprised by the way the man answered

the phone.

“Good afternoon, how may I assist you with extraordinary service

today?” he asked.

I told the man what I needed, and I also told him I liked his

attitude.

“We all have jobs to do, so why not try to make the most and best

of everyday?” he said. “It sure can make a difference.”

Those three positive encounters were refreshing, and they were in

marked contrast to a call I made later when I encountered someone who

seemed very negative and unhappy. Obviously, we don’t all love our

jobs everyday, but I realize that there are plenty of times when we

can choose to make our contribution to life positive or negative.

Like the service technician said, we all have jobs to do, so why

not try to make the most and best of every day? It sure can make a

difference.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

[email protected] or through the mail at 537 Newport Center Drive,

Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.