Kristi's Korner
He was wearing a gray suit.
The most interesting thing happened to me today at Meijer---and of all places, in the toilet paper isle. I was considering the differences between Charmin and Quilted Northern when an attractive young man, perhaps in his late 20's, wearing a gray suit, red tie and a smile, said to me: "Getting in your weekly shopping, eh?" Without turning around I immediately thought, Please no. Please don't let me get hit on in the tissue isle at Meijer. So without even looking at him I gave a slight chuckle and answered, "Yep."
As he walked ahead of me he asked, "Are you from the area?" Oh great, here we go. "Yep."
"Really, do you go to Western?" He then read the front of my MSU hooded sweatshirt, "Or to Michigan State?"
"I graduated from MSU."
"That's great. What program did you study?"
I answered him, knowing what would come next. "Communication, PR, that's great. So what are you doing with that?"
Uuuugh. The inevitable question. The question that even I cannot answer--one that I ask myself almost daily. And now I have to tell a handsome, dark-complected stranger in the same place where I stock my bathroom. "Actually, I'm trying to figure that out," I answer, embarrassed.
And then this stranger, with sparkling eyes, no shopping cart, and not so much as a product in either hand, begins to tell me about my inherent potential. It's as if he came into the store only to deliver a divine message to a young woman who is struggling with finding her footing on one of life's more rocky paths. For several minutes he shared with me the detrimental properties of fear... and how confidence, faith, and a true heart with good intentions are the keys to success. He told me to determine my goals in life and understand that I can be the person that I want to be through a multitude of avenues. But one of the last things he said to me struck me most: "You're worth more than you think."
All I could think to say in return was a thought that had already been running through my head all day: "I don't want to be mediocre." I was smiling ear to ear when our exchange came to an end--in fact I was so engaged that I forgot to buy toilet paper. And I walked away happy because this random guy offering unsolicited advice at Meijer a) didn't ruin the moment by asking for my phone number and b) intrigued me to the extent that I wondered if I could be the target of some divine intervention. For that alone, I believe I'll conquer mediocrity. Thanks!