samsaranmusing:

The clerk at the grocery store didn’t smile at you and was curt even a little rude. You take it personally, you get offended, you are curt back. She cringes. Now you are angry and you  scowl at the kid pushing carts because you have to wait 15 seconds for him to pass. The cycle continues.  What you didn’t know is that clerk’s baby is in the hospital.  She hasn’t slept in two days.  She can’t afford to miss anymore work. Try compassion. Try kindness. Try not taking everything so personally.  Increase the sum total of joy in the world even if only by a little bit.