Interesting Trader Joe's Encounter

I have always loved Trader Joe's (TJs)- the produce is fresh, the meat is happy, the aisles have rows upon rows of interesting non modified products, which is always changing, and the people are progressive- intelligent consumers and friendly helpful staff; at least that has been my experience and my perception. So when I politely and kindly offered my services to a woman who was struggling with her groceries I was quite taken aback by her gruff resounding NO!

The Scene: I was filled with excitement at being in TJs (food makes me happy) and even though I was only picking up a few items I wanted to give the wonderful goodness that is found within the walls of TJs my full attention so I was standing off to the side responding to some very persistent texters so I could proceed with my culinary journey. As I am sending my responses I notice a woman coming towards me who is struggling with a small 'granny cart' overflowing with goods and two armfuls of boxed berries- she obviously needed help. Being the kind person that I am I offered to help her with her parcels because I could see if she ventured any further up the aisle in her current state innocent bystanders may have been assaulted with berry pulp.

photo credit: kobochangirl-aka

Not looking me in the eye she replied very curtly, 'No'. Generally I respect a person's right to say no...no means no...however, she was clearly in need and I persisted against what I thought was her stubbornness and asked if she was sure she didn't need help, 'No!' again, this time a bit more forceful. So I backed off and resumed the task at hand but I just couldn't help watching in awe as this same woman who refused to accept help from me practically pleaded with a young man to help her with her packages because she just didn't know how she was going to make it up to the front of the store to the line with all of her stuff.

'Thats interesting' I said, more to myself than to anyone else, 'what?' she replied 'but you didn't want me to help you'I said still in shock. 'No!' she said and shuffled away with her ignorance and food items.

I was so taken aback and did not quite know how to wrap my mind around it- I found a similarly complected person and described the scenario to see if anyone else thought it odd that someone in 2012 would turn down the help of another even of a different skin color. The kind woman with whom I spoke told me that 'I knew what that was' and gave me a knowing look- but I wondered as I thanked her and walked away 'Do I know what that was?'

What she was implying was that I had had a first-hand encounter with racism and I suppose I am still trying to wrap my head around a concept I have always had trouble understanding: treating someone different or judging them based on their color or how they look alone and it did not seem to matter that I was dressed nice and was offering a kindness...

That was interesting

CL

What Say YOu?

The Resurrection

Hello All,

A friend of mine recently encouraged me to start a blog to share my many thoughts about the world around me and specifically with my interactions with it (especially the people) .... so true to form I set about "researching"...what does one say in a blog? who will read said blog if it is created? what will I say? what if I have nothing to say? what is my purpose? This litany of questions and very little concrete answers harassed me to no end for weeks upon weeks and then I made a decision: I will start a blog! All of a sudden it made perfect sense and people all around me were encouraging me to write about my experiences. Once the decision was made of course I had to mull it over some more, there needed to be a title, all of the experts said you needed a specific topic to write about...endless thinking and pondering...until TODAY. 

Photography By: ChristyLove

Today I decided to put my fingers to the keyboard and go through with this non-daunting task that seemed so in my brain. I opened my lap top and typed in the wonderful Google search bar: Blog- a selection came up, I was thrilled, maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all, was my thinking- the page that came up was someone's blog entry- I figured I would read it for inspiration. The more I read the more intrigued I became- this person had an interesting view on life, excellent vocabulary- all two of her blogs were very well written- then I looked at the name signed at the end and it looked like a name I frequently used meaning 'Earth' and the words seemed eerily familiar. Wait for it... IT WAS MY OWN BLOG!!!!!! SMH LOL I found myself on the web- sneaky Google :). Not quite as dramatic as somebody's idea of the second coming but hey, whattya gonna do?

So they say that no one's idea is original and apparently "they" are right back in 2009 I attempted to embark on the world of blogging and apparently didn't get very far- however here I find myself back full circle so it must be meant to be (I even liked my title...so clever of my 2009 self)

So here I am to try again- committed to sharing my encounters and thoughts concerning the world around me with whomever shall partake.

Read, Comment, Share!

Blessings,

CL

Soul Food

Have you ever waken up in the morning and felt absolutely icky, either mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. For whatever reason, you can't shake the funk. Let's face it, it seems an impossible feat to wake up every single morning positive chipper and ready to face the miracles of another day, or to be untouched by doubt or worry from time to time. I woke up yesterday and felt absolutely dejected, like all I wanted to do was roll back over and cover my head and go to sleep until whatever this manifestation was passed me by; but I couldn't do that, I had work and obligations and life, so I forged ahead.

Photography By: ChristyLove

 But you know what I noticed that the world was a bit more gentle with me, people were kind ( in most cases their kindness came in the form of leaving me alone),  and I made it through and was faced with empathy support and caring from my significant other, who even offered to rub my feet (although the idea got lost in the sea of his very many many ideas but in this particular case it truly was the thought that counted). Right before I drifted wearily and greatfully into slumber I realized that it was not one of my best days but I could pinpoint how and where the Universe provided me with exactly what I needed when I needed it (sometimes without me knowing that I needed anything)

And although I have to varying degrees experienced and witnessed this phenomena many many times it still amazes me that there is a force of utter love and abundance among us all that works very hard to give us what we need if we would only step out of the way for awhile and let the magic happen. I have also noticed that the Universe is not too shabby on fulfilling wants either (it seems if they are of pure intent) even wants we never verbalized out loud and then even let go...sometimes letting go is all you need to do as hard as that may be.

So I would like to thank the Universal army bringing light love and abundance into the lives of those who are ready to embrace it (glad I am one of them) for giving me a gentle reminder that I am not alone and everything indeed will be ok.

What Say YOu?

Welcome to the Many Meanderings of my Brain

Hello All,

I am beginning this blog as a way of officially and confidently stepping into the 21st century. After creating profiles, commenting, reading various web social networking sites I decided that blogging should come only natural. I am also beginning this blog because I have lots of thoughts that run through my head and I am not afraid to share them.

This Blog will be dedicated to my wanderings and discoveries of this beautiful thing we call life on this thing we call Earth. I am truly fascinated and most of the time humbled by the utter perfection that surrounds and sometimes devastated by the magnitude of our (human race) ignorance and destructive natures (which by the way I do not completely believe is inherent). I feel the weight of responsibility to make the world better than when I came into it daily, and perhaps this blog is a way of sharing that burden as well. So happy reading (and thank you for reading) Comments and Questions are welcome

Until we Meet Again,

Ela