Tonight, after work, I called in at IGA for a few bits and pieces. I arrived at the checkout, no April there today so less stressful, with my half-full trolley, just in front of a woman with only two items, so I thought, OK, be magnanimous, and I waved her in front of me. Turns out she also needed a cooked chicken, which someone had to get for her, needed cigarettes from behind the counter, she wasn’t sure which ones, asked for cash-out, and then we had to wait while a staff member came to validate her shoppers’ docket. Then of course she decided to start looking for her credit card in her purse in her bag (it seemed to come as a shock to her that she had to pay), which didn’t work, so she then fossicked about looking for one that did.
Wait until I tell Susan. Magnanimity doesn’t always pay. Although I suppose that’s the point — it’s not supposed to.
I have to say, though, it’s now a tricky balancing act for me choosing between assertiveness and magnanimity. I’m trying to be assertively magnanimous, but I’m finding it’s a bit like trying to sing while you’re playing the harmonica. Am I overthinking things? Probably, if I have to ask myself that.