Sunday, November 19, 2023

Rosalynn Carter: A life well lived


Is any act of kindness too small?

Yesterday, while grocery shopping, I wandered down the cereal aisle and found a woman, maybe similar in age to me. She was eyeballing the store brand of oatmeal and comparing it to the name brand (Quaker) that is so popular. I spoke up and asked her if she could use a $1 off coupon for oatmeal. Another day when I was shopping at the same store, I had received the coupon at checkout. She accepted. I had no idea whether that one dollar was significant to her or not. It just occurred to me to ask.

A few minutes later, in the produce department, I spotted another person checking out pistachio nuts without shells. I had had a habit or buying them also, but recently figured out I could get a better price regularly on them at a particular website with a feature allowing for "subscriptions" for delivery on a regular basis. So, I explained the concept to that shopper. And "they" refrained from buying them at this store and probably went home and ordered them online.

These incidents may be of little consequence or impact other than in the context of Mrs. Carter's words above. This morning I realized what I had done yesterday at the grocer. Then I found out Mrs. Carter had passed this morning (AZ time).

I reflected back and became thankful for having had such wonder inducing interactions with strangers in an important place in my community. Beats the heck out of when, years ago, I looked at life differently than I do now.

I'm thankful for the life Rosalynn Carter lived in America and in service to people wherever she went.

 

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