Sometimes you experience something that is truly inspirational, when and where you least expect it. Unfortunately, that inspiration stays with us for awhile and then it is forgotten. Perhaps we share the insight with a few friends and family and then we move on in our “what’s next”, instant gratification society. Again, that is a shame as I feel it would be far better to linger in the moment psychologically and commit oneself to remembering the revelation in a similar fashion as to how we remember birthdays and anniversaries. By choosing to write about it, it is my hope that I will not forget it, and hopefully inspire a few to share the perception.
I wasn’t looking for inspiration and epiphany as I made my routine trip to the local Trader Joe’s a couple days ago. As a matter of fact, I have come to somewhat resent the Woke Culture nature of the TJ’s even though I very much enjoy many of the employees and the overall unique, cool vibe of the store. Keep the Cool, lose the Woke (story for another day). I had seen this young female employee many times before and I have always been pretty amazed by her cheerfulness and upbeat demeanor. That, in and of itself, is noteworthy, but certainly not the kind of thing that would inspire me to write about it. I had seen her stocking shelves and performing other various tasks around the store, but I had never seen her work behind the register. You see, this young woman has one good arm and another that is a “half arm” at best. I couldn’t help but watch her closely as she managed to create double bags, pack my items, load them in a cart, and work the register with a speed and efficiency that matched her fellow co-workers (and surpassed several). Astounding. And all with a smile on her face and an inner beauty derived from a job well done, a task accomplished, and an unwillingness to let her disability stop her from finding a way “to do,” as opposed to “not do,” as she certainly had every reason and rationale to choose the latter path. Interestingly, “not do” seems to be all the rage these days.
We have all heard a lot lately about the fact that employers are having a difficult time finding workers as it has become challenging in an environment in which many potential workers can make more money not working than they can working. We also have heard much as to the many trillions of dollars that have been utilized and contemplated for various bailouts and government sponsored programs that are meant to help affected individuals, organizations, companies, and municipalities. Take a moment to consider that a trillion seconds equates to 31,000 years! Read that again and truly let that sink into the depths of your imagination. Math is a funny thing in that large numbers, if you hear them mentioned casually enough times, lose their ability to amaze and stupefy us. We should be BOTH amazed and stupefied. Trillions of dollars being spent on anything, especially trillions of dollars that are created out of thin air (“deficit spending” makes it all sound so strategic and benign) are not something that responsible citizens should not take lightly, and yet we do. That is on us, we should be better informed. The bottom line here is that it makes no sense to incentivize people to not work. Help is one thing, disincentivizing is an entirely different “strategy.” Utter stupidity and it will take a toll on us financially as well as psychologically. The best and the brightest are not created while sitting on a couch playing a video games waiting for the next check or direct deposit to arrive. Have we lost our minds?
Back to my “friend” from Trader Joe’s. Really take a moment and consider what it would be like to exist with one good arm. Talk about a great excuse to feel bitter, depressed, anxious, and unconfident, she has it. Like a victim? You bet. Also take an additional moment and consider many of the things you do every day and take completely for granted. Driving a car, dressing yourself, working on a computer, preparing a meal, getting out of bed, etc. etc. Perhaps she does take these things for granted now, yet the journey must have been difficult and frustrating. Then again, perhaps she knew no other way, so the learning was simply natural, yet different. I don’t know the specifics, yet I do know that she could have chosen a much different trajectory in life, and the fact that she didn’t should serve as inspiration to the kind of person our current zeitgeist is engendering. Unfortunately, I know that it won’t as we are reaping what we sow, and the seed of this next generation is deeply planted in the soil. We have taught them to be overly sensitive about virtually everything, believe you are a victim when the world does not hand you exactly what you want, and finally to judge people in ways that celebrates ethnicity over ethics and performance. Perhaps I am being a bit harsh? I don’t think so. Time will tell. You can’t win the race, by refusing to run.
Courage, integrity, and intestinal fortitude come to mind off the top of my head when I think of the young woman from Trader Joe’s. I may not agree with everything she thinks and feels, yet I can guarantee you that I will listen to anything she has to say. Her actions have earned it. Respect is not and should not be something that is bestowed and awarded. It is, and always will be something backed up by action. Life 101. Somehow I feel we have lost our reliance on this eternal truth. I am not attempting to place her on some type of a pedestal, I am simply using her as a contrast to the apathy and lethargy I see all around me. The next time I do something difficult I will think of her and somehow, I feel that task might seem a little less challenging.
“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.”
Translation- life can be difficult, through the struggle we learn and grow.
Ernest Hemingway from A Farewell to Arms
The 2021 version could be, “The world breaks everyone really easily and afterward many are perpetually weak at the repeatedly broken areas.” It is time for our country to look to God again and celebrate the ways that led us to our status as the best country in the world. If that sounds arrogant that is not my intent; my intent is to be patriotic and celebrate a love for one’s country. It is not too late and perhaps the example of an impressive young woman (who happens to have one arm), finding joy in her work / life rather than showcasing sympathy and entitlement gives me hope.
“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”
Bruce Lee
Thomas M. Cook 5/13/21
Tom – great observations. I too like the vibe and the whole experience of shopping at Trader Joe’s and trying their different versions of the same foods I can get elsewhere. I also dislike the selfishness of the Cancel Culture and the WOKE nonsense. However, I do feel that Trader Joe’s deserves credit for standing up to those that demanded they change the names of many of their products that 2500 high school students claimed to be racist. TJ finally came to their senses and told them no way are we changing the names.
Fred,
Yes they do deserve credit there. Our local store certainly has a real Woke vide however.