When the Grumpy Salesperson Tried to Steal My Sunshine

The other day, I popped into a hardware store on a simple mission: grab some topsoil, maybe wander into the dangerous territory of “just browsing” a few garden tools I definitely don’t need. You know, as one does.

I made my way to the gardening section, channeling my inner green thumb.

After squinting at labels and Googling a few things under my breath, I finally picked out a couple of big ol’ bags that seemed right for the job. Feeling somewhat victorious, I looked down at my prize—and then quickly realized: these things were heavy. Like, "I'm-going-to-pull-something" heavy.

So I did what any confused weekend gardener would do: I asked for help.

Cue the world's most unenthusiastic employee. When I approached, they offered a reaction that was somewhere between a grunt and a sigh, topped off with the kind of expression you might reserve for someone who just cut you off in traffic and then asked for directions.

It was the universal look of "I don't get paid enough for this." And for a second, I felt the urge to get annoyed. But then…

What if they’d had a terrible morning? Maybe they got stuck in traffic, spilled coffee on their shirt, or got some tough news before their shift started. Or maybe—just maybe—they’re a permanent member of Team Grump. Whatever the case, did I really want to let their funk drag me down?

Here’s what I realized in aisle five between the mulch and the miracle grow: someone else’s bad mood doesn’t have to become my bad mood.

We all have our off days. We snap, we sulk, we stew. And sometimes it spills over. But I’ve got a choice in how I respond. I can meet negativity with more negativity… or I can just let it roll off my shoulders and keep my peace intact.

This doesn’t just apply in hardware stores. It’s at work, in traffic, on social media—anywhere humans are being, well, human. People have stuff going on behind the scenes that we’ll never see. And while that doesn’t excuse poor behavior, it does help explain it.

So instead of reacting, we can pause. We can choose kindness, or at least neutrality. We can protect our joy like it’s the last plant in the garden that hasn’t wilted from the heat.

Next time someone’s having a moment—whether it’s the barista, your coworker, or a random stranger—try giving them a little grace. Take a deep breath, smile if you can, and remember: your peace is too precious to hand over to someone else’s bad day.

And hey, if all else fails… buy yourself a plant. It’s hard to stay grumpy around a new succulent.

ChillaxTribe

POSITIVE AFFIRMATION

I create space between their energy and my being