Pat myself on the back day

Today, I made the world a better place. I didn't cure cancer, or eliminate world hunger.

I bought a slushee.

Living in Las Vegas for 13 years has poisoned my personality. The city's population makes New Yorkers look like the friendliest people on Earth. Strangers do not acknowledge each other, let alone say a polite greeting. I always have to remember myself when returning to California, Nevada's polar opposite.

I remember my first day back in California after having moved to Vegas was culture shock. My parents have a beach front condo in Southern Cal, where I stayed on my return visit. Every morning I would go for a walk on the beach. Total strangers out for a walk would say hello. Me, being the mean Las Vegan I had become, would ignore their existence, and have to catch myself and respond to their greetings before I looked too rude.

The past two years, I've spent more time in California than at home. And it's finally starting to bleed back into my personality. It really started week ago. Cycling in Petaluma. Across a 4 lane road, another cyclist was waiting for a green light, as was I. Going in opposing directions. He was already stopped, and fiddling with his water bottles when I pulled up to the light. When he looked up, he waved across the road to me. I haven't been a regular cyclist for over a decade, and I had forgotten the comraderie among cyclists. And Californians.

And so....today, my random act of kindness. I'm in a mini-mart in the middle of the afternoon, picking up some soda. The only other customer in the store gets steps behind me at the register. I glance up, and he smiles and says hello. All he has is a slushee from the fountain drink bar. I tell the cashier that I'm buying the gentleman's drink as well. After thanking me, he introduced himself. He had just gotten back from Reno. He coaches girls' softball, and his 5th seeded team took 2nd in the tournament. No shame in losing to the best team.

It's such a small thing. But it really has an effect on my outlook. The entire day, I was more upbeat and positive. Living in Vegas has turned me into a bitter, cynical, negative person. I hate what I've become. I hope this small change is reflective of the future me.