Sometimes my life plays out in ways that feel uniquely…Elizabeth somehow. Tonight’s AirPod incident was case in point. 

Today at lunch, I showed what I felt like was common courtesy to a stranger in a parking lot, and he offered to pay me for it. (What does this say about us as humans, as a society?) I declined and told him we should do kind things for each other as humans.

Fast forward to tonight…

I went to the grocery store to pick up a prescription and get deli turkey for dinner. 

The gal behind the pharmacy counter called me twice, and I didn’t hear her because I had earbuds in. I felt so rude, took one out, stuck it in my pocket, and apologized. She was very gracious. Human. Being kind.

Pharmacy (check)

The new guy at the deli counter wasn’t so very friendly. He wasn’t necessarily unkind, but he was definitely gruff, kinda short. I was disappointed because I tend to have very friendly interactions with deli workers at this particular store.

Turkey (check) 

My very-Portland-2025 grocery store has a security guard checking every receipt as people leave the store. It’s very aggravating to me because I feel like I’m being punished for other people’s bad behavior. Most of the guards just nod me by, but tonight’s was unfamiliar and kinda grilled me about a return I didn’t want to wait in line for. And, frankly, I was rude to him. Human. Not being kind. (Me.)

I felt bad about it all the way to my car. I knew I should go back and apologize, but I was embarrassed, afraid of how he’d react. I was actually driving out of the parking lot when I realized I had to go back. So I turned around, and when I re-parked, I realized I still had one earbud in my ear…but the other was no longer in my pocket. Ugggggggh. (I lose earbuds more than anyone I’ve ever known!) So now I had two missions going back in.

First stop: security guard. I walked right up to him and told him I owed him an apology. He looked very confused, so I told him I’d been rude to him about gummy bears (of all things) and went on to say I know he’s just doing his job and I’m very sorry for being rude. He was kind, gracious, shook my hand, and smiled big. Human. Giving grace. 

On my way through the store, retracing my steps and studying the floor, I found someone’s debit card. When I turned it in, I said “I hope this means someone will find my earbud too…”

Then I searched the store for probably 20 minutes using Apple’s “FindMy” feature. The earbud came into range near the deli, so I asked that new guy if he’d seen it, and he kinda dismissed me to help another customer, but then…after he was finished, he came around front to help me, and—would you believe it?—he FOUND my earbud in the deli case!! I wanted to hug him but refrained and just patted his shoulder and said “You’re my new favorite person of the day!” He smiled so big (with all 6’3″ of himself), was so kind and gracious, and said “Have a blessed night!” Human. Surprising me.

So, tonight I found my earbud AND some human kindness in a deli case.

And today, we were all humans, sometimes not being as kind to each other as we should, and also finding grace and kindness. Ram Dass, a late spiritual leader said “We’re all just walking each other home.” And, on days like today, I’m reminded over and over how very accurate this is. We’re all just walking and learning and fumbling and fixing and doing our best and hopefully being kind and gracious whenever we can and hopefully always learning from both the times we’re kind and the times we’re not so kind.