There are lots of memes, quotes and admonishments about the importance of attitude. Years ago there was a song about attitude adjustment…
And while I generally believe this to be true, every once in a while, something happens that makes it absolutely true.
Today was one of those days. And it happened at the DMV. On my birthday.
This is not a set up for a good time.
Yet.
I passed the door monitor’s scrutiny of my paperwork with some relief (since I’d failed a few times before) and sat down to wait my turn. Since my number began with a “D” and not one single “D” ticket had been called thus far, I was not encouraged. I’d used the online system but the appointment time now seemed more optimistic than realistic since it was well in the past.
The lady next to me struck up on a conversation.
As a writer, I love meeting people this way. They often give me a line or trait I can use in a project. As an extrovert, it just helps to pass the time. This lady shared about her six kids and 18 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren and how she would circumvent the directive from her daughter not to make a five hour drive to see her son in Galveston anymore by only letting the daughter know once she was halfway to Galveston… she was one of these elder women I aspire too– plenty of wrinkles but plenty of lovely too with her lipstick, hair, and nails done. A warm laugh and a wise heaping of peace of who she was and is.
Then the mom and young girl also started talking with me and the teen was there for her permit and, of course, that’s an exciting day. We talked about our hair for the photos.
We all shared the mutual frustration of waiting so long and earlier attempts to get through the bureaucratic rigamarole.
And something happened. There was a shift. As numbers were called, people began to cheer like we were contestants on The Price is Right. We laughed and encouraged those of us left behind.
When my number was called, I went to the assigned window with a smile and laugh. The clerk noticed the date and wished me a happy birthday and we joked that my gift would be a decent picture. We also talked hair and she thought mine looked fine (my hair in Texas heat is an adventure).
It was an hour of my day and it was not bad at all. No clenched jaw or eye rolling. Plenty of smiles and friendly conversations.
And it wasn’t the date, the place, or even the people. Those people could have easily made that hour seem like ten. It was attitude.
Theirs. Mine. Ours.