Don't talk to strangers

Remember as a child, there was that blanket statement of "Never talk to strangers". Well, I'm not a child any more...but I still follow that rule. I actually like that rule, and wish others would follow it.

Nothing irritates me more than standing in line at the grocery store, and the man in front of me saying "I see chili peppers, meat, tortillas, and avacados....SOMEONE'S MAKIN TACOS"!

I want to respond saying "No. I'm not. I just bought ingredients to make tacos. But I'm going to put these together to make lutefisk and lefse. Dumbass."

But my "Real-time Response" still isn't very nice. It' would usually go, "Yep. No kiddin." And then I'd roll my eyes.

When I get home from the day, and my neighbor is sitting outside smoking -- I grab my cell phone and start faking a conversation to avoid having to talk to him and hear his voice.

Sometimes, on the airplane, my I-pod dies. (traumatic) But I still wear my headphones. Just so the person next to me doesn't talk to me. (unless it's Ryan, I like talking to Ryan on the airplane. He's fun)

In lieu of this...I have realized that maybe this is something I need to work on? And it's my favorite time of year. (This is where some may think I'm a little *off*)

Lent.

I think Lent is the most wonderful time of year. It's time for us to truly buckle down, work on our problems, and strive towards a better relationship with the Lord. It's the time of year where everyone makes little sacrifices, and although the sacrifices and resolutions are for better their self -- it's all in the goal of becoming a better Chirstian.

And I think that is just beautiful!

So, in addition to trying to focus harder on being a good Catholic, taking more time for prayer, and continuing to center our marriage with Christ. (A cord of three strands is not easily broken -- this versefrom the Bible hangs in our living room).......

I am trying to be a nice person.

You may read this and think, "And you're going to be a NURSE? But, you sound like an antisocial b****!"

However, I am very connectd to my patients, family, friends, loved ones..

I could care less what kind of day the lady on the tredmill next to me is having, however!

But I still need to be nicer.

I don't believe in being fake. Fake is the epitome of TOO MANY-relationships in our society, (sometimes I feel.) And I don't want to become that! But I still need to be courteous.

Does it really take that much energy to tell the annoying man in line at the grocery store, "Yes. I am making tacos. How did you guess? *smile*"

So far -- I have made bounds of improvement. Here are my 2 deeds that I have done (this is hard for me okay? Step 1 is admitting you have a problem, people!)

1) I didn't do the self-check out at the grocery story last week. I went through the real line. And when the check-out person asked how my day was going.....instead of staring at the floor saying "Good." I looked her in the eye and stated, "My day is going well. How is YOUR day going?

2) I passed someone on the highway today. It was a run-down truck going 10 miles below the speed limit. I didn't give him the finger, glare at him, OR shake my head in disgust. I just simply passed him. No road rage included.

I am making leaps of improvement!

Maybe...by the end of the week....I will say "Hi. How are you." to my neighbor.

We'll see.

This is a process, afterall.