we're going to the market

This past Saturday my dad and I went to the store to pick up some last minute groceries before I headed back up to school.  It was a normal shopping experience at our usual grocery store (minus the 21 bottles of SoBe we got. they were on sale, okay...).  That is, until we were walking out of the store and we both turned around when we heard a woman pounding on the self-check out screen and throw (literally, throw) a huge thing of meat back into her cart.  She started yelling at the lady working the self-check out who had happened to be helping another costumer.  Everyone around the area stopped and starred at her as she was yelling at the poor woman who clearly had done nothing to deserve the treatment she was receiving.

I looked at my dad and said, "How unbelievably rude" as we walked out of the store.  But that was it.  I didn't go to the defense of the innocent worker.  And trust me, I so badly wanted to as I left.  And the further from the store we walked, the more the desire grew to stand up for her.  What was it about that situation in the moment that made me turn a blind eye to the woman's behavior and continue on with my life?

It immediately reminded me of a YouTube video I saw last week (watch here).  Here I was given the "what would you do?" situation, and I did nothing.  I walked away.  And you know how after an argument or situation you always think of what you should have said that just would have made your point so much clearer?  The "ohh, I should have said this" thought?  Yes, that happened to me.  And not just Saturday as we got in the car and drove off. Still even today, four days after the incident.

And I didn't want to be rude or call out the lady for her behavior towards the worker in front of her kids and the store (because I don't believe I was in any position to call her out.  That would have been rude of me.).  No, I wanted to love on the worker, and let her know that just because she was being treated this way by a stranger, who was probably having a rough day, doesn't reflect on her character or who she is as a human being (And I've seen this particular worker numerous times, and she is always working hard.).

What is it about society that makes it harder and harder for us to love on strangers? What was I so afraid of?  The possible reaction by the shopper?  Having to step outside of my comfort zone? Embarrassing myself? Maybe I shouldn't have even said anything at all.  I don't know.  All I know is that I still feel bad for the worker and she has been a constant thought of regret this week.

I guess the point of this is that I'm sad that making a random act of kindness towards strangers is becoming less and less of a thing.  And that is disappointing.  Or standing up for what we believe in.  Even if it means we are the only one with that belief.

My confession: I failed to stand up for a woman being treated poorly and I regret it.

here's the video link again. 

really, i recommend watching it.