Ventured out on Saturday to do some Christmas shopping.
(I am so behind…)
Way too many grumpy people.
BUT, if you say a few friendly words to someone, you’re rewarded with a smile and some friendly words in return.
People actually seem grateful for the opportunity to smile.
HELLO! It’s Christmas time!
Kind of helps to remember why you’re out there.
(Above image courtesy of the Internet. My wrapped gifts never look like that.)
16 comments:
Happy shopping!
We did some shopping yesterday too. I just LOVE holiday shopping....
[who the hell am I kidding? I love shopping of any kind, at any time of day, for any occasion. I love shopping. It's my favorite sport.]
If those were your gifts, I was going to pay you to wrap mine!! Don't I wish all my gifts, under the tree, could look like that! I am so bad at wrapping, and I use way too much tape. It is a joke around here how I laminate the gifts.
I am impressed you went shopping! You are so right about a smile going a mile (wow, what a poet I am). I was in a store with Hannah and Christie yesterday and they said (in a very grumpy way) "Would you please stop saying hello to strangers!" I decided to smile and say hello, just to get through it, and was surprised at how many grumpy people's faces turned into a smile.
XOXO
When we lived on the boat I did a lot of the Christmas shopping in the summer before we left, and then I always did a bunch in Florida, particularily Miami Beach, it was kind of cool and an adventure, now I am on my second Xmas of shopping in BCN, it adds a certain amount of fun to it all as I don't know where to find things nor what is available, but it is also kind of frustrating. I don't normally like shopping. It is nice when you find something that you are fairly sure they will like though.
I'm a fan of going back to the Victorian days when an Orange, some nuts and a ribbon were considered good gifts & the emphasis was placed on what Christmas was ACTUALLY about instead of the Marketing Machine that it is now.
Not that I'm in any way religious.
But still, random smiles are always good.
Woo...I wish my gifts looked like that all wrapped up!!
Beth, you've got it...it's contagious...you smile, they smile..and as you said, people want to smile they just don't know how or why...glad you're moving ahead on the shopping...I've done about nothing..okay, a few things, but mine will all be electronics so...........
Christmas doesn't need to be stressful. Thanks for the reminder to smile...I like flashing a smile at a stranger even when it isn't the holiday season. And I love getting them unexpectedly too.
lainey-paney:
I'm thinking...if they ever make shopping an Olympic sport, you will qualify. Alas, I will not.
eileen:
I use gift bags! Saves on tape and back pain...
Glad to hear you did the smile thing yesterday - it makes such a difference.
oreneta:
Can't find things? Don't know what is available? I'd go bonkers. I may have smiled yesterday, but I hate shopping.
AMC:
I used to get an orange in my stocking - which is not to say I'm of Victorian vintage!
sherry:
I was pleasantly surprised at some of the grumps who smiled back. They were probably surprised to find themselves smiling as well.
(I wish my gifts looked like that too.)
mrs.g:
As long as we both just keep flashing smiles....and nothing else!
WHAT?? You stole a picture from the Internet??? I'm shocked -- SHOCKED, I tell you.
I know why people are grumpy -- they just spent oodles of money on people who won't even appreciate the thing, anyway.
On a Saturday?!
You are a braver woman than I...
dorky dad:
Do not report me to the www. police!
Smiles or no, I can be grumpy too - and it's not about the money, it's about finding the right gift for everyone. Such an impossible task.
princess pointful:
It was either venture out on Saturday or be caught in the winter storm on Sunday. We have TONS of snow!
I used to love shopping, but now it's such a chore. I lucked out this year, as most of the people we buy gifts for want gift cards. And it comes in a pretty little piece of cardboard you insert the card into.
I can't do ribbons and bows. I just wrap it and use a cut up piece of scrapped wrapping paper as a tag. I've used gift bags, but they cost more than wrapping paper.
I remember this line "if you see someone without a smile, give him one of yours. It doesn't cost a cent." It rhymed, but I can't remember the whole thing.
girl my gifts never look like that either!!!! I throw that wrapping on there and that's it...my boys could care less about the ribbon and bows...although I like that stuff.
what all did you get? anything good?
I really don't enjoy shopping. Anytime. Anywhere. Okay, actually that's a lie. I do enjoy grocery shopping for some weird reason. ...not many people on my christmas list want groceries though.
shari:
Confession - I buy those gift bags at The Dollar Store. Very inexpensive - guess 'cause they're last year's make and model. Who cares!?
I like that "smile" saying - my smiles are mine to give and I'll give them where and when I want to!
beth:
Did I get anything good?? At this point in time (LATE!) anything I found I consider good!
charlotta-love:
Well, if I was on your Christmas list, you could do a grocery shopping for me and I would consider that a gift!
I am almost done shopping! I finally came up with something meaningful to give my mom. So, I feel a bit more relaxed about it all.
Actually, I was kind of grumpy while shopping yesterday. I must remember this post...and...smile!
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