Redemption At The Supermarket

OK, you all know how I feel about resolutions, right? I'm going to go on record and say that what I'm about to write right now is not so much a resolution but rather, a pledge. I pledge to be more forgiving and understanding of people in the coming year. Last night, my wife and I went to the movies to see Will Smith in "Seven Pounds". Without giving any of the movie away, let me say that my take on it was of a man riddled with guilt and unable to forgive himself. With that said, I won't say anymore about the movie. You really have to see it to understand what I'm saying. Case in point...

I drove to the nearest supermarket (Shop-Rite) this morning to pick up a few things... some Hefty trash can liners and tall kitchen bags. I also picked up two bottles of mildew remover and a Jet Magazine with Keisha Cole on the cover. I think everything came up to about $28.50. The supermarket has a policy that you cannot take grocery bags into the restroom with you so, I told the cashier that I was going to leave my two bags on the side to be picked up when I returned. She nodded. I returned a few minutes later only to discover that my bags were gone.

The cashier, who was in a conversation with the other cashier across from her about who was the flyest, Little Wayne or T.I., suddenly realized what happened and she said, "Oh, I'm s-o-o-o sorry, somebody just walked off with your groceries! They just walked out... if you hurry, you can catch them. They couldn't have gone far!" I dashed out of the store and into a parking lot filled with people. Several cars were pulling off and people were everywhere. The person with my groceries could be long gone! I ran back in and asked the cashier what did the person look like? She couldn't remember. I asked if the person was a man or woman? She just gave me blank stare! What was true was that my groceries were gone.

I was asked if I had a receipt. It was in the bag with the groceries! The manager was called and my plight was explained to him. He asked me for a receipt. It was in the bag. He said that he could look at the tape of the transactions made and give me a duplicate receipt. He needed to know how much the groceries were. I said, "$ 28.50." It took him about twenty minutes but, he found proof of my transaction and I was able to get the same things I originally purchased and go about my business.

I should have been incensed and I admit being a little perturbed for a few minutes... but, I realized that making an ugly scene was not going to get me any satisfaction any quicker. I also remember what it was like to be a teenager, working a mundane minimum wage job, and have my head in the clouds. Been there, done that. I thanked the manager for taking care of the manner and I walked away.

I even forgave the cashier. People make mistakes and nobody is perfect. One of the criticisms that is most thrown around about me is that I don't always pay attention to detail. This made me think about being more detail attentive in my own day to day work to avoid such mishaps. A mishap that might have turned ugly was handled so quietly that nobody else in the store was even aware that it happened. I was proud of myself for showing restraint when I had every reason to explode. By not exploding, I didn't make the cashier or manager's day bad and everybody walked away a winner.

This year, I pledge to show forgiveness and understanding and practice restraint. This is not a resolution. It's my pledge... to not only forgive others but, to forgive myself too for my own past shortcomings. It's a good way to start off 2009, if I do say so myself!