Senior Citizen Discount

I popped into the supermarket yesterday to pick up a few items. In a rush, I was quite impatient as I noted that the cashier had scanned all the items, yet had not totalled the amount. She sat there waiting for something and I wondered what. All was soon revealed – to my shock and dismay, she was waiting for the supervisor to authorise a senior citizen’s discount – for ME! Well, can I tell you that in that moment a cacophony of thoughts cascaded through my head – how dare she; the nerve of her; do I really look that old; I must visit my hairdresser today to wash out my grey hairs; I will never leave home without full makeup ever again; and more – like a raging torrent reminiscent of the recent rains from Tropical Storm Gustav, the angry, upset thoughts came.

Then, a different thought, like a tiny ray of sunshine, peeped through. I recalled a part of my mother’s now-famous e-mail that inspired my book “Free and Laughing: Spiritual Insights in Everyday Moments” – funnily enough, the incident Mummy related happened in a supermarket too! Here’s the part that came to me “I did have a good laugh with and at myself, giving thanks that I can see the funny side of life still and not caring what others think because I know it doesn’t matter at my age and should not have at any age either”.

And this little ray of sunshine, grew into a full blown sunbeam of gratitude – for reaching my age hale, hearty, healthy and happy; for having the money to pop into the supermarket to buy what I want when I want it; for the actual discount – the prosperity of the universe coming to me, and finally for my mom, who continues to be my guide in spirit.