How Much Control Do You Have?

Last week,  I was in a major time crunch putting the final touches on my eBook, which will be available for purchase through my website, I made a mad dash to Staples for a hard copy of the manuscript. As I waited in line, people were impatient, rowdy and obscene. The wait for services rendered was two hours. I wanted to throw a fit and cry just like the Asian girl who needed her copies for a presentation she was giving in an hour. But being the patient New Yorker that I am, and knowing I had no control of the situation, I stood in line and judged.

Asian girl: You should have had that shit done yesterday. You deserve to wait.

Hot Puerto Rican guy: You and your biceps deserve to be next, just because.

Mother with three screaming kids: Sister, get yourself a printer and stop showing up places with those disobedient toddlers. And while you're at it get a new birth control method.

French woman yelling on her cell using the fax: I love you. Not only are you multi-tasking: cursing your boyfriend in French, faxing, but you're "working that Marc Jacobs handbag and those fabulous curls!

"When it was finally my turn, I was ignored by the Latin Staple's employee. She skipped over me to tend to a girl with tears in her eyes who claimed to only need one copy. It was God sending me a message, it was now time for me to judge the employees. See, I'm spiritual, I can interpret his signals. Eventually, I  got my copies, but I wasn't a happy camper. That's when my bf called and put a smile on my face.

Now, in keeping with my glamorous and fabulous life; yesterday was no exception. As I was eating lunch at Taco Bell--taking a break from editing the eBook, Dating Stuff: Things About Dating You Out To Know--which is not to be confused with my REAL BOOK that's coming out soon, too--a beautiful Black server working her shift and obviously given the role of securing the dining room walked up to me and grunted.

Worker: Why you be here? This part be roped off.

Nando: (In the middle of a HUGE burrito bite) I'm sorry?

Worker: (Sucks her teeth) You got to get up and move there. (Points to an empty table with cheese crumbs and left-over fire sauce packets)

Nando: But I don't want to move there. It's dirty; besides, I'm Mexican, I eat fast, see...I'm almost done.

Worker: Don't make me call the manager.

Once again, I had no control in the situation and as I got up and moved, I realized that there was nothing "roping off" that area, not unless you count a few taco wrappers and straws surrounding the spot. And just as I was about to call the Better Business Bureau on ShoLoandra and her lunch crew, I took a deep breathe, ate my last burrito bite and walked out. A few blocks away my phone announced a text message; it was my sexy Mexican boyfriend. He wanted to know how my day was going. He seems to call or text at the right moments. Just reading his messages put me in the right frame of mind.

‍Nandoism #52: There are people in our lives that show us the good side of things, if we allow ourselves to notice. These are the people who have a good heart and find the beauty around them. They appreciate a good laugh, a gentle moment, or even a nice hug. And even though we might not have total control in certain situations, it's these people who make things better for us. In a time when everyone's on a mission and obsessed with self-preservation, I can't help but wonder, " Can we take control of our lives by letting go and seeing the beauty instead?"