Part 2 -- Front Desk Clerk
The hotels--and buildings in New York--were a lot different from what I expected. For one, they're super compact. The elevator in our hotel even had a sign announcing it is "consolidated": fancy word meaning 2 people will physically fit there, even if the sign reads "limit 7." That saying "packed like sardines in a can," well, it must've come from New York!
In the cheap hotel we picked, people plastered themselves against the wall just to let others pass by. And my husband, a man of average height yet exceptionally broad shoulders, only had a couple inches of clearance on each side of him in the hallway.
Anyway, after arriving at the hotel, the front desk clerk looked at me strangely as I continued waving at him until he gave me his full attention. "Ummm, can I...help you?" he asked.
"I just wanted to see how your day's going."
"Well, it's average...."
"Average?! Are you kidding me? You work in New York. You, my friend, you're livin' the dream."
At this point, Mike (my husband) chuckled. I remind him daily--he got into this marriage voluntarily!
"This isn't the dream, ma'am."
I set my suitcase (which would hardly fit through the teensy hallway) next to Mike. My feet sprinted over to the front desk clerk and then I faced the same direction as him. "You see out that door?"
He nodded warily.
"Out there is so much excitement. It's just waiting for YOU!"
The man snorted and couldn't help smiling.
"You're not from here, are you?"
"Nope."
"You from Texas?"
"No--I'm from Idaho!"
"And, you, lady from Idaho? Are you livin' the dream?" he asked.
"We all are." I grinned. "It happens when you simply realize it. Life can get so messy, so miserable, so hard. But it can also be amazing...if we embrace it. We're still alive aren't we--it's a good time to act like it!"
He quieted and instead of looking patronizing, his eyes studied me and then he nodded. "Okay." He looked from me to Mike and laughed.
"Goodnight," Mike said in his low voice.
"Have a good one," the front desk clerk said.
As we waited for our tiny elevator, I heard another tourist ask the desk clerk how he was doing, I couldn't help grinning when he told them he was "livin' the dream."
What I learned from him: people can be in the best place ever--the land of opportunity--and not even realize how amazing that is.
Sometimes we all need a reminder that life can be crap, but it can also be the best thing ever.
Perspective has the power to change the quality of our lives.
Signing Off for Today,
EC Stilson
To read Part 1 of this series, please click HERE.
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