I find that sometimes rude, grumpy or mean people need someone to be kind to them.

When my first instinct is to dislike someone because they are being grumpy or rude, I remind myself that they are probably just having a bad day dealing with people.

If a person is always grumpy, they may have had (or have) a very hard life. An act of kindness or even just a smile can go a very long way.

The challenge for this thread is to find such a person, and focus on them, and do or say something nice and check their reaction.

Report back here with your story.

You and your bright ideas Jeanniebean, tried it ! she didn't look happy and I when against my
better judgement and I said nice a*s WHAMO just smokes whith her bag, she must a had
a couple a beer in there, pretty sure i'll get a black eye

well i'll try again, can't judge on one experience
I'll be back

It is said that misery likes company

I've made a habit of it for a while after it happened to me accidentally once. I was in such a good mood one day that the grumpy person got an earful of happy and it changed their mood around within minutes. Since then it's been my thang...cause it's WAY cool to change someone's day.

It feeds your own happy too.

If two people's moods are too far apart, a very angry person may not appreciate a perky happy happy person trying to tell them to smile or cheer up. So that kind of thing is not what I am talking about.

This happened to me a long time ago, but it is an interesting story.

I was tending bar and there was this homeless (seemingly insane) woman who would come in and buy one shot of alcohol and then she would go into the women's restroom she would make a big mess and throw toilet paper and towels all over the place. It showed a lot of anger and frustration. Needless to say, I didn't really like to see her coming into the bar.

One day I looked at her differently. I treated her kindly, and gave her a bowl of soup and asked her if she wanted another drink on the house. She accepted. I proceeded to give her as many drinks and as much soup as she wanted for free, but she did not take advantage of that. She had only a few and then she left. After that, she never made a mess in the restroom again. Her anger was gone.

You jest I'm sure. You don't tell a woman she has a nice a*s*s unless you know her intimately silly.

The woman who started my desire to rub off on people was sitting in the middle of all the soccer moms at a game. She complained about everything through the entire game. Every ref was unfair, every coach was an idiot and every kid...8-9 year olds...didn't know their position.

It was her kids first game with the team. After the game I tapped her on the shoulder and when she turned around was shocked out of her wits when I told her that we all liked to meet at Dairy Queen after games and she should join us. She didn't know what to say, so I just told her I'd keep two seats with me and my nephew for her.

She did show up and though it turned to suspicious at first, the grumpy left within minutes. I basically just acted like I never heard a word of her negativity at the game.

I got my bell rung in jest

then bought I drink for all the rest

Why would I want to tell a woman that she's got a nice a*as if I'm already intimate with her
Isn't that like wiping before you poop sure we would

Well I had a boy friend who always told me that. But if a stranger did, I would probably slug him.

(while secretly be pleased.... I've seen my a*s*s* and its disgusting.)

1Cynderella

Good story. Keep them coming folks! See what happens when you show a little kindess.

Here is one of my favorite ones.

I was a waitress at a truck stop. There was this guy who would always come in and he seemed so troubled and grumpy all the time. I treated him extra kindly and smiled at him like he was a long lost friend.

That was all I did. Mostly smile.

He left me the biggest tip! $20.00 for a cup of coffee.

A beautiful thread jeannie!

Another one while tending bar:

One day a man came in who looked all rumpled and homeless. He looked like he had been on a three day drunk. That day we had a big pot of stew cooking in the kitchen. He looked like he could use a meal, so I asked him if he wanted some stew. He said he did not have his wallet. I said that's okay, its on the house.

He ate the stew and said thanks and left.

The following week a man came in and he was wearing a nice suit. He looked at me and said "You don't remember me do you?"

I said "No."

He said he had been in here last week looking like a bum and I had given him the stew and never asked for anything. He thanked me for my kindness for treating him well. Everyone else had been throwing him out of their bar that day. He was a lawyer.

I'm looking forward to your story.

book mark this thread and get back to us.

I will try for a new story tomorrow. I'm sure I can find a grumpy person somewhere.

"With a little love...and some tenderness......."

I do try, when someone is being "trying", to remember that they may simply be having a bad day/week/year/incarnation...

I know that on days when I'm not at my best, there are people who have been kind to me, and it's made a HUGE difference. So now it's all about paying that forward...

good stories.. like to read more.. these stories really gives a smile

I always try to be happy.

But you've all seen me when I've been unfairly pissed off.

Still, I can't stay mad very long.

Always lend an ear to a friend having a bad day...

Jeannebean

I pretty new...but I guess I've been very lucky, haven't run across
any grumps yet.

I was getting lots of mail from younger guys (I answered them all, tried to be say "thanks for the interest but". Someone finally steered me to mail settings...no more unwanted mail. In fact, now I'm not getting any. Oh well, I'm just going to read the forum and get back in slowly.

I am currently working on a virtual slap in the head button for your keyboard. You meet anyone rude,, grumpy, or just plain ignorant? Hit the slap button. A virtual hand will come out of their monitor and slap em right upside the head. 10 second solution.