Yesterday I was running errands around town in preparation for being out of town for a couple of days. I went to the grocery store, dry cleaner, and ran Audrey to the doctor for a quick checkup. She takes special vitamins as she is a bit anemic, so I stopped at our local pharmacy to pick up a new bottle. As I waited to be helped, the woman in line in front of me began to shout at the pharmacist because she was upset over a mistake with her prescriptions. She yelled loudly enough that the entire store could hear it and she shouted over and over again to the pharmacist helping her “you are as dumb as a box of rocks!” She continued to yell, refused to listen to any of the attempts to satisfy her, and then physically grabbed her prescription bottles from the pharmacist, shouting about how they were making her late again because they are dumb as a box of rocks. I stood there behind her in silence, not really knowing what to do. In the end, I did nothing, and I felt really bad about it.

I deal with customers regularly in my own job. Sometimes they are upset over a mistake that has been made somehow. I thought about how awful I would feel if someone shouted at me that I was as dumb as box of rocks. In this case, I don’t think anything I could have said or done would have calmed the shouting woman. In fact, it probably would have made it worse. But after she left, I wish I had said a kind word of encouragement to the pharmacist. I failed to do that and I wish I had.

Ever since Andrew and Audrey were born, I’ve noticed how much difference a few kind words here and there can make. A year ago, we were really struggling, not sleeping much, dealing with Audrey’s reflux issues, as well as all the tasks that are associated with two infants. We both worked full time at our careers as well. It was exhausting. Many people took the time to tell us that we were doing a good job or to keep up the good work. Sometimes those were just the words we needed to hear to give us the patience we needed to continue on our way.

The power of a few kind words goes a long way. Sometimes it makes the difference between giving up and fighting harder. Sometimes it makes the difference between a good day and a bad day. Sometimes it changes someone’s whole perspective. Sometimes it changes someone’s whole life. I’m going to work harder at kindness in all forms, but especially the words that take just a few seconds to say.

As for us, we are all doing well. Andrew and Audrey are both walking with ease and are beginning to enjoy playing with balls, playing on the playground, chasing and being chased, knocking things over, and wrestling with anyone who will lay on the floor with them. They are a lot of fun. We walk them around the neighborhood in the evenings and take the dogs with us also. Both twins do a lot of babbling and noisemaking in general. We keep listening intently for words, but so far the only one is “UH-OH!” from Audrey. She says it over and over and then guffaws with a maniacal “HA HA HA!” There is nothing like a good maniacal laugh.

It is the wonderful part of the year in Houston where everyone comes out of their houses and walks around in the neighborhood. It is still in the 80s in the day, but it drops to the low 70s in the evening and is very comfortable to get outside. It’s finally fall and my favorite part of the year in the south.

I’m writing this post from an airplane, so I won’t be able to add in any pictures this time. Hopefully I will have some after our Halloween events.

Have a happy fall!