While it would be nice to describe the start of my day begins with a walk to a mailbox at the end of a long driveway in a secluded section of town, nice big house, a community among the stars, maybe we could put this somewhere out in sunny California, or maybe elsewhere at a place where the rich live and the homes are mostly paid with royalty checks and the bank accounts are all full with an accountant to monitor the flow of expenses. But no.
The truth of the matter is I am a worker. I have bills. I have a small apartment and a car that has seen better days. I have expenses and for the time being, I am spread thin and often I find that I have to burn the candle at both ends so that I can make ends meet.
Above all, yes –
I am fortunate. I am employed. I have the ability to work, which has changed over the last few years. I say this because age has changed the abilities of my body.
I don’t heal quite as fast.
I’m slower now and north of 50 years-old. I am starting to notice that my get-up-and-go does not get-up-and-go quite as quickly as it used to.
But either way, the saying is true: Time waits for no one.
And life – life can be pretty busy.
My day is somewhat busy. I have a position. I am a union employee and I have day-to-day responsibilities. I have a job that can be stressful at times and also rewarding depending on the sentiments.
I have a team to work with and yes, I meet both good and bad people. I have people who are a pleasure to work with and others who are not such a pleasure at all.
Then again, this is how the world works.
But before we go forward, I would like to add some clarity.
Let me begin by explaining that I wake up early. As in, very early. I wake between 3:30 and 4:00 in the morning. I collect myself as best as I can. I weave through my small apartment and navigate my way to the bathroom to take care of my morning essentials.
I have a trusty coffee machine and a trusty, handy-dandy little espresso machine as well. These are my go-go juice machines and both are equipped with a pretty white or bluish light and a magic button that makes the coffee perk and the go-go juice makes a hissing noise – and then a stream of hotness falls into my magic cup to act as a receptacle of the needed juice to start the morning.
This has become part of my needed routine which others can relate to.
I’m sure.
I am fortunate to have these things; however, I am honest enough to admit that as people, we take the simple things for granted.
I am not “NOT” a morning person but I am not as bubbly as I used to be, nor am I as quick or as resilient as back when we were young and still crazy kids.
Remember?
Remember when we went out until all-hours of the night and even on no sleep, whatsoever, somehow, we could make it to work the next day and still survive.
I can’t do that anymore.
I am not jaded by any means. I am more aware of reality and in full, I support the idea which states that skepticism and realism is not the same as pessimism and cynicism. Age has taught me a few tricks and while I might not believe (as much) in the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus, I have a better understanding of the word hope and the realities that surround us.
Now, with that being said, I am a firm believer in the benefits of our surroundings.
I am a believer of the contagiousness of our surrounding atmosphere. Like the experiment with plants, and with one of the plants being yelled at all the time and the other plant being nurtured with loving and kind words, I see how the benefits of our atmosphere can have an impact on us and our daily life.
My morning at work starts with me heading through a loading dock gate because, as mentioned, I am a unionized worker, tried and true.
My collar is blue and my hands are dirty. I wear a uniform and at times, there is often someone who approaches me and inquires, “Is it true?”
And usually, I know what they mean.
“Is what true?”
“Is it true that you write books and all that stuff?”
It’s enough to make me smile; however, my writing is not enough to buy a happy meal, let alone pay the bills enough for me to consider myself a financially successful author.
I am not a typical writer but then again, I never wanted to be typical at anything.
I never wanted to be a garden variety nor am I here to be the next Kerouac or Burroughs, and more to the point, while inspired by Robert Fulghum and while I admire them all, including Jim Carroll and Frank O’Hara, I am not here to be “the next” either of them.
But that’s not the point –
My day starts with a mixture of grumbles and smiles. Some people smile. Some people grumble.
Or, like the person who opens the arm at the loading dock gate, some people walk over and greet me like a person.
They offer the bro-hug and the pat on the back.
There’s the question of “How are you,” which is sincere and genuine and then there’s the offering of “Have a good one, my man!” which goes back and forth between us.
This is the first person that I physically speak with in the morning.
I can say that while yes, part of my daily routine I will encounter cruel people with their angry bitching gripes and yes, I have complaints to deal with because amongst all of my responsibilities, I am part of a team that handles the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning in a commercial office building.
There is more than 1.5 million square feet of office space in this building which means there are more than 350 air conditioning units. Then we have to add all the components and the needs for preventative maintenance – plus, there are plumbing jobs that need our attention and simple electrical problems that will arise throughout the day.
I have different tenants with different temperaments.
I deal with different people from different backgrounds and from different cultures.
And again, I say life is really a mixed bag of people and tricks.
However, I start my day by coming through the loading dock and as I’m greeted by a smile and the warmth of a fellow “bro-hug” I am reminded that while not many people care to offer a kind word or share a friendly hello in the morning; there are good and friendly people in this world. Find them and keep them close to you.
There are people who can and will inspire us and for the time being, it’s enough to get us through the day.
This is enough to push us to take the next possible step – even if we don’t want to.
The benefit of a smile and a kind word is more redeeming than we can imagine.
I was thinking this while coming to work this morning. I have things to deal with today. I have work to do.
I have a heart that is need of attention.
I have stressors in my life. I have challenges that I am currently working through and, yes, until my life is financially set or successful enough that I find myself walking to that mailbox at the end of a long, secluded driveway and until I am that author who lives in an exclusive community, or until I live amongst the palm-trees that exist in my head and work from a remote island that I own by myself, I have work to do.
I have people to see and life to deal with.
I was listening to the comedian Bill Engvall this morning.
He was talking about the healing benefit of laughter. He said, “If you’re willing to look hard enough, the good Lord will give you a smile.”
I needed to hear that.
I needed the friendly hello this morning at the gate that enters into the loading dock of a place where I earn my daily bread.
I needed to remember that there are good things to see and friendly people in this world.
I don’t know if I am always one of them – but I want to be.
This led me to think of the most beautiful smile in the world –
I can only see this in my mind now –
Do you know what?
I want to smile more.
I want more people in my life who appreciate the very substance of life, who understand the simple wealth of how to smile and how to enjoy and endure life – and they have earned the talent it takes to do this, even through unenjoyable times or during unenjoyable circumstances.
I want to be more like this.
It is easy to be submerged in the flow of the crowd – especially when the crowd is angry or when complaints are abound and staggering with high volumes or bitching and moaning.
It is easy to lose oneself to the gripes and the grievances.
And today – well, today is Monday.
So, there’s already something to bitch about.
But as for Monday –
no one told this to the man at the security booth in the loading dock.
He smiled. Gave me a hug, asked about my weekend, and then told me to have a good day.
I think that’s some good, solid advice.
Have a good day . . .
It’s enough to make me think and more, it’s enough to put this idea as an item on my daily list.
Thank you, sir.
Your kindness does more than you think.
Kindness – who knew this could be better than a cup of coffee?
The Written Addiction 