The other day I was in line at DSW (for those not familiar, it is a huge designer shoe warehouse). I was the only one in line standing behind the big sign that said ‘Form Line Here’. The sign stood about 5 feet away from the line of registers. As the customer in front of me was finishing up and I was getting ready to step forward, a man literally ran up from I don’t know where buying three pairs of shoes and stepped up to the cash register. The cashier started ringing him up thinking he was next in line. Hello? Did I look like a mannequin holding up the sign? The store wasn’t even that busy at the time and I was literally the ONLY ONE STANDING THERE with one pair of shoes! First, I wanted to yell at him and to physically push him out of the way. Second, I wanted to explain to him the rules of the game, how inconsiderate he was, and then tell him my story and everything I’ve been through to still be around to buy one pair of shoes. But no, I stood there and smiled awaiting my lost turn in line.
This got me thinking, I was using my cancer as an excuse for better treatment, a disability so to speak. I wanted him to know that sure, maybe he was in a hurry, but excuse me, I’ve had cancer. Isn’t that the most ridiculous thing? I don’t want cancer to define me; it is simply a part of my story. When most people look at me they don’t even know. I want to be the person that I am today because of what the cancer has taught me; stronger, bolder, more understanding of people because of their story. Maybe he didn’t see the sign, maybe he’s from out of town, maybe it was his first trip to DSW and didn’t know the ‘line rules’. Whatever it was, I was not in a hurry so waiting 5 extra minutes didn’t really matter to me. Despite being discouraged, I was able to take a step back and wonder about him and wow, the story I made up in my mind about him made me laugh out loud.
Anyway, we all have insecurities, ‘disabilities’, things which happened in our past or words that were spoken to us that have made us who we are. Sometimes we like to use them as excuses, the ‘if you only knew what I’ve been through…’Well, it’s time to get your MOJO back. Don’t allow those things to define you. Every day is a new day and a new chance to be the difference.
Today I wear I wear Revlon Coffee Bean lipstick which is a beautiful medium brown with a tiny bit of pink undertone. It also has a little bit of shimmer. I chose this color because of the name. Coffee to give yourself a jolt of life, no excuses!
