Kickin' & Screamin'

While in the grocery store this morning, I overheard two women talking about Halloween.  One of them was apparently a bit more gung-ho on the occasion than the other…as she was complaining about how much effort they had been putting in to her son’s costume.  “It’s just so much trouble for one night of silliness,” she said.  Though I didn’t catch what her son was dressing up as, it was apparently an intricate costume that Mom just didn’t find to be worth the effort.   The other woman was a bit more excited about the upcoming night of trick-or-treating, as she shared that she and her husband were dressing up along with the kids, going as Papa Smurf and Smurfette.  Mom number one was completely shocked by this.  “WHAT?  You’re not painting your skin blue, are you?  That’s so much trouble!  It will take you forever to wash that off!”   I loved Mom number two’s reply… “it’s so worth it to have a fun night with the kids! THEY want us to be Smurfs, so Smurfs we shall be.”  I was SO tempted to high five her right there, but decided to keep it a secret that I was eavesdropping on their conversation.

After realizing I’d lingered a bit long in the snack and cracker aisle, I feared these women knew that I was listening to their conversation.  As I moved on, I thought to myself…how often do we think something is just too much trouble?  I also questioned myself as to whether or not I’d ever thought that something was “too silly”–but quickly smiled and realized that no–I am indeed the Queen of Silly, so that’s never been a problem.

But the first question–yes, that one struck a chord with me.  I have often thought, that something is too much effort, taking the easy way out.  I thought back to Halloween several years ago, when Ella insisted that her costume would be an actual trick-or-treat bucket.  She wanted to walk around in a huge bucket, constructed of yards of material twined around hula hoops.  She thought it would be a hoot that she could literally walk around wearing her bucket, having people just throw their candy into her costume.  It was a GREAT idea, but not one that I wanted to tackle.  I dreaded it.  I casually discussed other costume ideas, hoping she’d bite the bait and change her mind.  But nope–her mind was set on this image she’d drawn in her head, and we had to make it happen.

It was SO much trouble.  It was so much work, for one night of fun.  And it was so, so worth it in the end.  Seeing her smile, watching her face light up every time she received a compliment on the costume.  It was all very much worth it.

As I left the grocery store this morning, I passed by a woman loading her groceries into the trunk of her car.  We were about the same age, and she seemed to be struggling in some way that I can’t quite describe.  She almost seemed to be in pain, though I couldn’t determine if it was physical pain or something else.  Right as I passed by her, she dropped a two liter of Coke onto the ground.  I couldn’t believe it didn’t explode.  I decided to stop, declaring that “I wouldn’t open that one for a few days.”  She managed a slight smile, when I realized her eyes were full of tears.  I insisted that I help her load her remaining bags into her trunk, while making casual conversation.

As I turned to go, she touched my arm, and said “you have no idea how much it means to me that you helped me.”  I’m sure she was exactly right– I have no idea.  I don’t know what this woman is going through.  I don’t know what the rest of this day will hold for her.  And honestly, I was very close to walking past her when she dropped that Coke.  I still had my own groceries to load into my car, and helping her was a bit off course from my plan.  But I did it, and there was a reason for it.  And in my opinion, the fact that I don’t know what that reason is, makes it even better.

There were people who went out of their way to do things for me when I was at the lowest point of my life.  They did things that might have been “too much trouble”….but they did it anyway.  My goal, since that time, has been to pay it forward and do things for others as often as I can.   And yep, some days I convince myself that certain things are just “too much trouble.”  But I always regret not doing those things.  Always.

I drove away from the store this morning with the goal of always being Mom number two from the conversation I overheard.  I want to be the mom who paints herself blue if it makes for an awesome night with my child.  I don’t ever want to be that mom who says “it’s just too much trouble.”  I want to be that friend that asks myself, “what can I do for someone today?”  while never talking myself out of it because it’s just too much trouble.  I want to be the random stranger who pays it forward for someone I’ll most likely never see again.  I want to be the source of pure silliness and laughter for someone…someone who needs a boost.  Someone who perhaps hasn’t laughed in days for reasons that I’ll never even know.

LIFE is trouble, my friends.  It’s not easy.  Quite often, it seems to get harder every day.  But what happens if we adopt the attitude that everything is just “too much trouble?”

If we adopt that attitude with our children, what kind of childhood are providing them?

If we live one single day saying “it’s just too much trouble”–what did we miss out on?  How could we have made that day better?

If you see a Mom and Dad dressed as Smurfs on Halloween night, give them a high five.  That blue body paint is a LOT of trouble.  They don’t care.  They GET IT.

Have fun with your kids this year.  If they’re too cool to want to hang out with you, make it a fun night for someone else.  Find a costume.  Go to the trouble of dressing up.  Give out candy.  Be the funny one that the kids will be talking about later that night as they sort through their treasure of candy.

I guarantee you, whatever it is in your life right now that’s “too much trouble” — it’s probably worth it.  Not to sound like the running shoe tagline, but JUST DO IT.

Is it REALLY that much trouble?  Nah….probably not.

Will it be worth it in the end?  Almost always, absolutely.  100%.