You Feel How You Act

Daily Meditation 1,198–6/21/2025

“You are how you behave.”

Sounds pretty “duh” level obvious, hey?

And yet, so many of us grudgingly stick to acting in a manner consistent with toxicity. And I don’t mean the abused and silly “toxic masculinity” or “she’s so toxic” sense.

Years ago, I was at a restaurant eating lunch. At the next booth over was a single, older woman, maybe 65 or so. She hadn’t ordered yet, so she was clearing waiting for someone else.

Finally, as my food arrived, the mystery friend did, too, and the two old gals hugged and laughed.

WELL.

Just around the corner in another booth — hiding! — was a third friend. She had apparently graduated with the one who’d just arrived…and they’d not seen one another in nearly 50 years.

As she sat down alongside the new-arriver, she was initially met with a “WTF is happening” expression. It then turned to shock. And then, finally, to a scream of joy.

It was a quite a ruckus — like stepping into a shrieking henhouse.

But these ladies were joyful! I laughed a bit as they apologized. Many lunch-goers gawked or scoffed.

The other people who were annoyed or frustrated were how they acted.
Grumpy.