Waiting Room Woes
I'm at the car service department waiting for a warranty repair on my car. I found a quiet corner to read and yet there are no chairs that are suitable to rest. A man comes in and flips on the news and plops himself down in one of the many very worn seats. The TV is too loud. I hate the news. I have nowhere to go. Bit rude really since I was sitting quietly. My tranquility was disrupted in a matter of seconds.
I feel my irritation rising and I want to speak up but looking at the man across from me, I make a snap judgement. He doesn't look like the type of man who cares about others. He's currently arguing with the technician about what does or doesn't need doing on his vehicle.
Not exactly how I wanted to start my day off, but here we are.
Trying to get comfortable and block out the surroundings, I find myself resisting the urge to be cranky. My wait is going to be long for the repair to be completed and I realized I have a choice. I can choose peace or I can get grumpy. I know I’d feel better choosing peace but my surroundings are screaming at me and I'm struggling.
A silent prayer leaves my lips and I try to turn my thoughts to other things. It's not working. I'm caught between tolerance and defending my own mental space. I recall a time not so long ago, when life was different. People were different. Each person here in the waiting area has their face buried in their phone. No one makes eye contact and no one speaks. The TV is still blaring but is merely background noise as the man who turned it on isn't even looking at it.
Please Lord. What do you want to do in this situation. Is this a lesson for me today? Do you want to use me here? Or are you simply letting me observe?
This relatively brief incident will pass but it has served to remind me that I am far too used to my own routines and environments. I get ruffled too easily when I find myself in unfamiliar situations.
My wait time has just doubled as a service technician has informed me of something that needs attention on my vehicle. C'est la vie. Armed with several snacks and most of a bottle of water, I try once more to rearrange my derriere in the available seat. I'm already regretting coming here today. The rude man is now snoring in the corner but the TV still blares…. I'm wondering what the protocol for waiting room etiquette is and I fumble awkwardly for something to distract myself. Thankfully, these excursions are few. What I do know is that I foolishly believed I would be in and out. I won't make that mistake again. Actually, I will. I always do. I'm ever hopeful and an eternal optimist. I start every day believing it will be the best day ever filled with sparkly glitter and dancing rainbows. My glitter reserves are a tad sparse at the moment, something I hope to rectify very soon. If I had some, I might sprinkle it on the snoring man….He looks like he could use it.