Several years ago I was at work and a strange man came up to me. He gave me a big toothy grin and asked me how I liked working there. I told him it was better than a lot of other retailers out there. He asked if I’d recommend working there and I said “yes”. He thanked me for my time and off he went. Not long after that exchange I noticed he was employed with my company. He worked in the grocery department and soon came to be known by the oh so clever name as Grocery Tim.
As time went on, Grocery Tim kind of annoyed me. He was nice, almost too nice. Not in a creepy way, but in an always happy and smiling even when no one else is type of way. Had I been in a better place I would have seen him for what he was- someone who chose to be happy regardless of the people or circumstances that surrounded him. Unfortunately, I took him to be ignorant. How else can you explain being so joyful when things have clearly gone to shit? I said to myself,” He just doesn’t get it!” Time and again I’d vent to him, only to have him take a bite of his apple and that damn toothy grin would appear once more.
After a while, I limited my interactions with him. Grocery Tim wasn’t on/willing to sink to my level, so I wasn’t getting the responses I wanted from him. Plus, there were plenty of other people I could commiserate with, so why waste my time with someone who probably never would “get it.”
All this was long before I’d discovered the concept of choosing to be happy. I’m grateful that Grocery Tim never gave up on me. He was always sharing pictures of cruises he’d taken with his wife Elle. They seemed like the perfect pair- both always smiling and very active. As years passed, I viewed Tim and Elle as people I’d aspire to be like. It became apparent that I had been the one who “didn’t get it.” I let work, coworkers and every other fleeting variable determine my mood. Grocery Tim never wavered- not even when he got diagnosed with prostate cancer. When he was able to work he was still smiling and upbeat. He quit working there to focus more on healing, however I had no doubt someone with his mental fortitude could and would beat this.
Whenever he’d stop in to say hi he looked better and better. He made a point to let me know his initial conversation with me is what inspired him to apply at my store. What a letdown it must have been given my constant whining. But I’d like to think he lifted me up to his level (or at least closer to it).
Yesterday Grocery Tim stopped in. It had been many months since I’d last seen or spoken to him. I was in a rush as we exchanged pleasantries and off I went. I later found out from a coworker who had taken the time to ask how he was, that his cancer had returned. He is currently undergoing extreme radiation treatments to battle this evil affliction once more. He was still smiling and warm as ever- as was Elle. I assumed because of this everything was fine, but he never was one to complain. He had no interest in commiserating with anyone. I am continually amazed at how the man with the toothy grin has impacted my life and continued to inspire and uplift me. Keep fighting the good fight Grocery Tim, and thank you for being you…