Let’s Say Goodbye to The Inner Grinch!

In efforts to get rid of my inner Grinch, I had to write this out. After reading this, you’ll have to tell me which perspective you agree with?

Ok! Here Goes!

Perspective 1 – “This guy is cruel!”

Did you spot a gentleman, approximately 5’8″, wearing a red shirt, tan pants and a menacing smile at Target 5 days ago? I am telling you right now, he was out there. He disguises himself as a Target employee and only comes out on Black Friday! His cover name is Dean & his goal is to trick customers into thinking he is a target employee. In the Black Friday Frenzy, he fools many. As they walk to opposite ends of the store, he snickers in the candy aisle waiting for his next victim.

Perspective 2 – “This guy is hilarious!”

A man moseys into Target to support his wife on Black Friday. Customers keep coming up to him and asking him where they can find certain items. Why are they asking me, he thought to himself. A cart then rams into his heel, throwing his cup of hot chocolate all over his shirt. Looking down he notices the red shirt tan pants combo that happened to match that of a target employee. He looks up. The customer’s eyes wide, waiting for a response. What an opportunity! Instead of waiting on my wife, I’ll have a little Christmas fun. He thinks himself clever as he responds confidently, “Computers are in Aisle 8”. The person scurries off and the man busts a gut. He plays this game with a few other people, who were fooled by his attire. I think I’ll make this a tradition, thinks the man. Then he got his last good laugh as he overheard a customer explaining, “This dumb target employee sent me to the chips aisle for a computer!”

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Some of you may have looked at these perspectives and thought it was a funny prank. Others may have thought it was rude. Some may have finally made sense of their Black Friday experience they’ve been having for the last few years.

Honestly, as I thought about this situation, I looked at others’ perspectives and thought, “Lighten up! It’s not rude, it’s hilarious!” I still think that! But I found that being upset that other people have differing opinions is a waste of time, and simply just makes me unfriendly. So here’s a new motto I am trying out:

Get Rid of My Inner Grinch!

How to apply this motto:

Step 1: Realize the Value of Both Perspectives!

We need sensitive people with big hearts who think laughing at the expense of others is rude. Often, those same people serve endlessly, consider the people around them, and make others feel valued. We also need people who are able to laugh about the little things and spice up boring situations in Target aisles. Often, those people lighten others’ loads, laugh instead of cry, and are committed to making life enjoyable!

We need the overly kind just as much as we need the unapologetically blunt, the uncomfortably shy, the outlandishly loud, the constantly funny, the fiercely serious – we need them all.

Step 2: Think Positively About Every Person, including Yourself!

All opinions are valid. Be grateful for the ability to think independently. If you don’t like the things going through your or someone else’s mind, be kind. Never allow yourself to believe that imperfect thoughts or beliefs make you stupid, awful, or less than. In the same breath, remember that when listening to the respective beliefs of others.

It’s time to be patient with ourselves while we train our thoughts to love first.

I can’t wait to hear what you all have to think about this! Share which perspective you agree with and why, so we can all put that new motto to the test!

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