Did you ever stop to wonder what might be going on in someone else’s head? They could be a complete stranger, but their actions are speaking volumes. For example, the lady at the deli counter, who apparently doesn’t like her job and gives you the end pieces rather than the prime cut. Or the teller at the bank who seems oblivious to your concerns as she angrily counts out your cash. Then there’s the grocery worker who stuffs your groceries randomly into the bag without thought to the eggs on the bottom.

We all run into people who seem to be so self-centered in their dealings that we quickly rush to judgment. Did you ever stop to think what may have caused their behavior. Perhaps the girl in the deli was filling in for someone who was late and she really didn’t know how to do the job. Perhaps the bank teller just received word that her job was going to be terminated and she didn’t know how she’d be able to support her young family. The grocery worker didn’t have to bag your groceries, but he was only trying to be helpful. Besides, no one ever bothered to show him how to bag groceries.

We often read so much into other people’s actions, without knowing the cause. Maybe if we start approaching life with a different attitude it would make a huge difference in the way we live. Our joy is dependent on it. If we look at those around us as the enemy we’re bound to be on the defensive most of the time.

We all have a life outside of the one we try to put forward in our dealings day to day. We want to make a good impression. We want to get the job done. We want to appear responsible, helpful and caring. As soon as something happens to get in the way of that, our body language changes, our facial expression is different and our attitude quickly takes a nose dive.

This is the beginning of a new year. We’re getting back into the routine of daily living. This is the perfect time to look inward and start reaching outward. By doing so, our joy will shine through a dark situation. Our responses will be different. We will begin to live life to the full.