Gritty Woman

It was a busy Monday, and I was the last one in queue at the bank, waiting to meet the General Manager. She was surrounded by people like me, each of whom in a rush, each of whom she attended with so much care that I began wishing she wouldn’t be nearly so nice and delay others. After a good 45 minutes, it was finally my turn to sit across from her.

“I need to revive my dormant company account,” I told her. “Because I am launching a magazine. I’ve filled up the required form.” I crossed my fingers while she glanced at the form, which had been a long and tedious one to fill. A glance at the wall clock told me it was just 15 minutes before the bank closed for the day.

“I’m sorry, but you’ve filled up the wrong form,” she said. My heart sank. “By the time you finish filling the right one up, it will be time for us to close, so please come back tomorrow morning,” she said. Then, gently, she added, “I promise to help you out first thing in the morning.”

But the kind tone of her voice did not help. I was in tears, having waited so long and hoped desperately that my work would be done. Reluctantly, I got up to go. That’s when she saw the magazine peeping out of my bag.

“Yours,” she asked.

“Yes,” I said, sulkily.

She asked to see it. Flipping through the pages, her expression softened. She told me about a magazine she had once published for the Rotary Club. Her eyes misted over as she recalled the bittersweet experience. And then she said something that made my jaw drop: “I had to give it up because I was unwell. Actually, I have just recovered from spinal cancer.”

Over the next few minutes, she told me that she had been through a maintenance chemotherapy session just a couple of hours ago. And that she lived alone in a ground floor apartment, because her illness would not let her climb the steps of her home on the third floor. “But every day, I come to work. And every day, I smile my way through the day. Because whatever your situation in life, you have the choice between smiles and tears.”

My eyes filled up with tears once again, but this time for a different reason…

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Kari K.

8:39AM PST on Feb 15, 2012

Poignant! Thank you!

send a green star

Jennifer C.

7:16PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

Thank you.

Siti R.

3:12AM PST on Feb 8, 2012

she didn't get an errand done but all that waiting for her turn yet she found out a personal story that enlighten her spirits an individual. never take people at face value.

Carmen S.

7:19PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

wonderful story, thanks for posting it

Angi W.

12:46PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

great story, thanks for sharing. It's a time in my life that I need to be reminded of that, thank you.

Brian M.

12:34PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

In "Her Sacred Blessing, Cannabis," Biran Sefar notes that properly used, cannabis opens the heart chakra for the free flow of compassion to oneself and the world.

12:24PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

The sacramental herb, Cannabis, opens the heart chakra to healing, thus making it easier and easier for the celebrant to find compassion for themselves and their world. I learned this when I first read "Her Sacred Blessing, Cannabis" by Biran Sefar.

Laurie D.

11:34AM PST on Feb 6, 2012

We all need to be reminded to offer unknowing and unlimited compassion to each soul we meet. It is in situations like the one in the article -- where you are most frustrated and rushed, that it is usually the MOST important. Thanks for the reminder!

Kiana S.

7:09AM PST on Feb 6, 2012

Thank you for the story! It's always good to put thing in perspective :)

Teresa C.

6:42AM PST on Feb 6, 2012

So beautiful and so true!! What a lovely soul!