Last Saturday I was in Peconic Bay Medical Center for my CPR/AED course. Some of us had arrived early and got seated to receive our materials. I was really excited to be doing this class and to meet some new people while at it. I came in, shook hands, smiled, struck up a short conversation with a woman who was here because just as recently as March, her father had fell over in the yard and she had tried to administer chest compressions without success. She wanted to do better next time if she was called upon to save someone. How valiant ❤️.
There was another woman with a seriously sour expression on her face. Apparently she had not gotten the message that the course was going to start at 9:00am instead of 8:00am. She continued on about how inconvenient this was and how she had been sitting here waiting with nothing to do for over an hour. The nurse was apologetic, but she just barreled ahead with how the hospital should have this... Or should have that... And reiterated how she only got the notification at such and such time...You could tell the nurse really felt bad, but wanted to get past this.
I'm using this as a case in point. There was a time in my life where I could have easily been 'that' sour faced complainer, looking at the glass half empty, putting a negative spin, pointing out how so-and-so didn't do their job right, just enjoying being miserable. Those days are gone.
You would be amazed how entering a situation with a smile, looking at crisis or inconvenience as an "opportunity" can be rewarding to your soul. She missed the chance to learn this lady's story, to see her goodness, to be 'open' to making a new acquaintance in that extra hour she was given by mistake.
We exchanged business cards and hope to keep in touch... Regardless, we listened and we learned. #breadcrumbs #beopen #followyourSELF #attitudeiseverything
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