Me First

The “me first” mentality is still strong in some people.

Now, before I get writing, let me first point out that this post in regards to people who seem self-important, entitled, and are out only for themselves. I absolutely believe that you cannot be available for others if you don’t take care of yourself first. Here, let me tell you what I’m talking about…

Recently, I was a part of two different lines with two very different outcomes.

I was in the checkout line at the grocery store, waiting, sigh. 

In the express line next to my line, an elderly couple rolled up.

I had seen them in the aisles and thought ‘what a sweet couple.’  The man was riding a motored cart and his wife was holding on to a rope (which had been wrapped around the motored cart) and being pulled behind him in her wheelchair.  He had the basket that was part of the cart and she was holding a small hand carry basket in her lap.  I thought, ‘what a devoted pair they must be.’

When they pulled up in the line next to mine the same thought crossed my mind.  I smiled and continued waiting, sigh.  After looking at the time on my phone, I looked up to see a woman who was two carts ahead of me in line had loaded her items on the conveyor belt and stepped over to the next line to assist the elderly couple with the unloading of their baskets.  I was so impressed, and a little embarrassed that I hadn’t thought to do that. Good for her! Yes, I had to wait a little longer, but no sighing this time.

Moving forward in time, I was in a car line, waiting for the light to turn green. 

This red car passed me to get into the right hand lane. That lane turns into a right turn only lane, but there are plenty of people who get into that lane to try to get ahead of the people going straight by cutting back in. Argh.

Of course, someone ahead of me let the red car cut in. Sigh. I went back to singing to the radio, and shortly found myself directly behind the red car that had passed me.  We come to another red light.  Yup, the red car pulled into the lane that will go right.  The light turned green, she sped up and cuts back into the lane that goes straight, about five cars ahead of me.  Okay, if we give her the benefit of the doubt, maybe she had an emergency.  I happen to think this is just her standard way of driving.  The “me first” mentality.

Would you rather see the “you first” behavior of the lady who helped the elderly couple, or the “me first” behavior of the lady in the red car?  I know how I would answer that.

Now think for just a minute…

Would you rather BE the “you first” behavior of the lady who helped the elderly couple, or the “me first” behavior of the lady in the red car? 

I hope you would prefer the “you first” behavior. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all practiced selflessness before selfishness?