What Goes Around Comes Around

In today’s fast paced environment, we rarely stop in order to enjoy the simpler things in life. Look back at your parents or grandparents, and you will often be surprised or even irritated by how long they take to complete simple tasks and seem to find even menial chores so interesting. The truth is that our folks are used to a simpler mindset from simpler times. But that does not mean that we cannot get some of that relaxing energy into our daily lives as well – because God knows, we sure could use it. Part of that satisfaction we can get is from being kind and friendly to others. Now in the South, where I am from, asking someone how their day is going is pretty much standard – and you actually get to hear people out. What never fails to impress me is that a simple question like that, or even smiling at a stranger as you pass by is never ignored and you can instantly see and feel someone else’s day brighten up. All it takes is a few seconds of well thought out actions and selflessness and you can completely turn around someone’s day on a positive note.

This brings me back to the time when I had taken a trip for work. I had just relocated for my job and didn’t have many friends, so I had left my car at the airport car park in a hurry. In my hurry and excitement of my first ever work trip, I had completely ignored the signs with long term parking charges on them. Long story short, when I got back to my car it suddenly hit me – I would be charged a large amount, possibly hundreds of dollars for parking my car there. I can’t really explain my feelings at that time except being helpless. After all, I had just started a new job, and even though they were nice enough to put me up in a motel for the first month, cash really wasn’t plentiful. After a few moments of choking back tears and telling myself that I am an adult and can deal with it now, I finally backed my car out and headed for the exit. I waited around five minutes behind the car at the exit before realizing that they were probably stuck and something was wrong.

It turned out that the gentleman driving the car had lost the green ticket required to leave. He needed that ticket in order to pay the amount he owed and for the automatic gate to open. Since he seemed in a hurry I offered to give him my ticket and call a parking attendant for myself. After that gentleman had left, I headed back to my car – and on the floor of the driver’s side was another green ticket. I don’t know how it got there but I was able to use that ticket in order to leave. And get this – that ticket had a promotional fare with 50% off the entire amount owed. As they say, what goes around comes around, so keep paying it forward!