DETERMINATION
Wednesday's and Thursday's, I've got an early client - 5am.
I was on my way in to work last week to see one of them. I made my usual "early-day" pit stop at the local 7-11 convenient store for my morning coffee and bubblegum-flavored Trident (my two diet vices)...
As I poured my coffee and collected my pack of gum from the candy bar aisle, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on the none-to-discreet conversation shared between the 7-11 cashier and a customer sipping his coffee, obviously loitering or procrastinating the start of his own work day.
The cashier was a 60-something year old female, under 5' tall, round-bodied, wearing bifocals, her unruly orange-red hair in severe need of maintenance, grey-roots sneaking out all over. In her bright red 7-11 cashier's smock, with her short, tousled hair and thick glasses, she looked more like a caricature of Fred Flintstone's sister than she did the owner of the store. But, I knew this woman as Mary, the 7-11 manager- she worked the store from opening til late afternoon, sometimes 7 days per week. She was, indeed also the owner of the store - hard-working, sharp-tongued, and vibrantly sarcastic when she spoke to her customers - the stereotypical 7-11 cashier, by my experience.
On this morning, she was sharing her conversation with a grey-haired, leathery-skinned man dressed in laborer's clothing, also appearing to be in his 60's. He sipped his coffee, leaning lazily against the counter, listening as Mary chastised him for his work-ethic, or rather, apparent lack-thereof.
"You see, it's called Determination, Juan. That's right, D-E-T-E-R-M-I-N-A-SHUN." She was scolding the gentleman, who was complaining about his job, his lifestyle, and his state of existence. The economic situation being what it is, I felt sympathy for this obviously hard-working older gentleman who must have had a bad turn of luck, or so it would appear.
"Listen, you! I was an orphan myself. I adopted and raised 3 children, all 3 of whom are now medical doctors. Well, the youngest one is still finishing up school, but soon will graduate and be a cancer doctor. You think that was easy on any of us? NO, but I instilled a sense of pride and appreciation for hard work into my children. I also was DETERMINED to succeed. Now, look at me, I OWN this store! And, I'm still working hard, but I am proud of my children, and how hard they work! I am thankful to the good Lord, and appreciate the little things, but I'm most thankful for my health and for the ability to be able to work to succeed."
It was encouraging and motivating to hear this older lady boasting sincerely about her victories over some tough challenges in life. She was a winner, for sure. And, although she was laying into Juan rather directly, she was not hateful in her tone. Rather, she delivered her truthful message in a sincere, warm and sharing manner, as if to say, "Look, I'm no smarter than anyone else - I just believed that I could succeed - and didn't take no for an answer."
I found myself standing, coffee and Trident in hand, intrigued, captivated by this squatty, round, red-and-grey-haired old lady as she told her story. Talking with passion and sincerity, old Mary stood much taller than her under-5'0" stature, sharing her pride with Juan and I.
As I absorbed the details of how she survived her own life in multiple foster homes, and later rescued her children from their own foster situations, I found myself with a growing sense of admiration and respect for old Mary. Her pride, her efforts, her sincerity and her drive all became a source of inspiration for me on this day. I smiled, continuing to listen to her talk of how she bought the store, as she rang me up quickly, without so much as a pause in her narration. "$2.49 please" and she continued on with her conversation.
After laying my money on the counter, and collecting my penny, I stood for another moment in the doorway, listening...before I caught myself cutting it close to my 5am session start-time. I slid out the door, walked to my car, smiling the entire way. Old Mary displayed unbelievable DETERMINATION to make a better life for herself...and she succeeded!
I guess we could learn a thing or two from old Mary and the story of her life. I know I will remember her from now on, every time I complain about getting up extra-early for one of my "crack-of-dawn" clients!
In Strength and Health,
Pete C.
619 Muscle, Inc
"We Build SuperHeroes!"
I was on my way in to work last week to see one of them. I made my usual "early-day" pit stop at the local 7-11 convenient store for my morning coffee and bubblegum-flavored Trident (my two diet vices)...
As I poured my coffee and collected my pack of gum from the candy bar aisle, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on the none-to-discreet conversation shared between the 7-11 cashier and a customer sipping his coffee, obviously loitering or procrastinating the start of his own work day.
The cashier was a 60-something year old female, under 5' tall, round-bodied, wearing bifocals, her unruly orange-red hair in severe need of maintenance, grey-roots sneaking out all over. In her bright red 7-11 cashier's smock, with her short, tousled hair and thick glasses, she looked more like a caricature of Fred Flintstone's sister than she did the owner of the store. But, I knew this woman as Mary, the 7-11 manager- she worked the store from opening til late afternoon, sometimes 7 days per week. She was, indeed also the owner of the store - hard-working, sharp-tongued, and vibrantly sarcastic when she spoke to her customers - the stereotypical 7-11 cashier, by my experience.
On this morning, she was sharing her conversation with a grey-haired, leathery-skinned man dressed in laborer's clothing, also appearing to be in his 60's. He sipped his coffee, leaning lazily against the counter, listening as Mary chastised him for his work-ethic, or rather, apparent lack-thereof.
"You see, it's called Determination, Juan. That's right, D-E-T-E-R-M-I-N-A-SHUN." She was scolding the gentleman, who was complaining about his job, his lifestyle, and his state of existence. The economic situation being what it is, I felt sympathy for this obviously hard-working older gentleman who must have had a bad turn of luck, or so it would appear.
"Listen, you! I was an orphan myself. I adopted and raised 3 children, all 3 of whom are now medical doctors. Well, the youngest one is still finishing up school, but soon will graduate and be a cancer doctor. You think that was easy on any of us? NO, but I instilled a sense of pride and appreciation for hard work into my children. I also was DETERMINED to succeed. Now, look at me, I OWN this store! And, I'm still working hard, but I am proud of my children, and how hard they work! I am thankful to the good Lord, and appreciate the little things, but I'm most thankful for my health and for the ability to be able to work to succeed."
It was encouraging and motivating to hear this older lady boasting sincerely about her victories over some tough challenges in life. She was a winner, for sure. And, although she was laying into Juan rather directly, she was not hateful in her tone. Rather, she delivered her truthful message in a sincere, warm and sharing manner, as if to say, "Look, I'm no smarter than anyone else - I just believed that I could succeed - and didn't take no for an answer."
I found myself standing, coffee and Trident in hand, intrigued, captivated by this squatty, round, red-and-grey-haired old lady as she told her story. Talking with passion and sincerity, old Mary stood much taller than her under-5'0" stature, sharing her pride with Juan and I.
As I absorbed the details of how she survived her own life in multiple foster homes, and later rescued her children from their own foster situations, I found myself with a growing sense of admiration and respect for old Mary. Her pride, her efforts, her sincerity and her drive all became a source of inspiration for me on this day. I smiled, continuing to listen to her talk of how she bought the store, as she rang me up quickly, without so much as a pause in her narration. "$2.49 please" and she continued on with her conversation.
After laying my money on the counter, and collecting my penny, I stood for another moment in the doorway, listening...before I caught myself cutting it close to my 5am session start-time. I slid out the door, walked to my car, smiling the entire way. Old Mary displayed unbelievable DETERMINATION to make a better life for herself...and she succeeded!
I guess we could learn a thing or two from old Mary and the story of her life. I know I will remember her from now on, every time I complain about getting up extra-early for one of my "crack-of-dawn" clients!
In Strength and Health,
Pete C.
619 Muscle, Inc
"We Build SuperHeroes!"
posted by 619Muscle at
8:52 PM
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