The Good Dirt About You

Did you know your dirt could be a good thing?

In the grand scheme of things, we are super busy people. Every generation has something to prove to the previous or to the next, and we are all getting busy trying to prove it. The way we work, handle ourselves in social situations and tough spots is about more than our personal record.

People are watching us all the time. We don’t even notice. There are people who take mental notes about everything we do, achieve and conquer. They are also seeing how we react to failures, disappointment, stress, and life in general.

Some of these people are children. Even the snarky kid at the grocery store is impacted by your behavior toward his snarkiness. The girl who hates her fast food job? She is rewarded when you are kind to her, even when she forgot your fries. That lady who answers the phone at the pizza place? She sounds super cranky- because her co-workers aren’t very nice to her. She could use a nice tip.  And the man who changes your oil? Distracted today because he has a sick kid at home so he forgot to add your premium service. Reminding him with a smile is much better than yelling at him or leaving a bad review on the company website.

People are watching us.

The people you work with are taking notice of you. They see your every move, and once you wear that Jesus loves this hot mess t-shirt to work, you have something to live up to. There is an unspoken expectation because you are dubbed as “one of those”.

I am “one of those”, yet I am also human. It is not an excuse, and I do not accept it as such. It is a fact. I am a human being, with temptation and tendencies. I have habits, both good and bad. I have a language problem.  I can sling inappropriate words like nobody’s business. I know when I am tired, worn or cranky, I am more susceptible to it.  But I must constantly remind myself, people are watching me.

When I make a mistake, I must admit it. When I hurt someone, I must apologize. When I am wrong, I must make it right, if I can.  This is where our dirt can be used for good! We can use our experiences to meet people where they are because we live there too!

With all the hype about fake media- which the media is also falsely reporting on (kills me, really), social injustice, inequality, and politics, we should be reminding ourselves to return to the basics.

Back. To. Basics.

Jesus said:

*Love people

*Love yourself

*Respect one another

*Literally take care of your neighbors & family

*Be Kind

*The Golden Rule Rules

*Turn the other cheek

*Control yourself

 

People are watching.

We will never be perfect, so we must let that one go. But we can be forgiving, merciful, grace giving and honest. We can be repentant and sorry when we mess it all up. Because, we will, mess it all up. Then we share it, and we learn from it and we move on. And we bring the ones who are watching with us.