The Crossguard Who Waves and Says 'Good Morning'

Every morning on my way to work, I pass by 3 school zones. I don't mind going this way and slowing down 3 times, because there is this one crossing guard who waves and says good morning to every car that passes. I look forward to seeing him every morning! He doesn't have to do that, but every time I pass he points at my car (not just mine, but everyone's), waves and says good morning, talks to students on their way to school and makes sure that everyone gets across the road safely.

I admire this man and wonder if he knows how much it means to me to see his smiling face early in the morning. I miss the days that school isn't in session, because then I don't get to see him! I have also noticed that people love being around him! When I look in my rear view mirror to see how this greeting is received, almost everyone who passes him waves and smiles back. It is as if for one moment, people forget that they are these harsh, lean-mean-driving machines!

I can't help but appreciate all those people that are waving and smiling at me right now. I have been a downer (which I planned on being), but I can't help but think how lucky I am to have friends and family that have been completely there for me this whole week. Probably one of the most challenging weeks of my life, everyone has truly understood what I am going through.

It seems as if we have all been there before. It may not be the same circumstance, but everyone has their moments of losing someone they love, having a future that is one thing one moment and something else the next, moving forward with faith only to have dissapointed hopes about the outcome, or facing weaknesses only to make them stronger.

I was reading this book my brother bought me called "How to be Totally Miserable," by Jon Bytheway. I was rolling when I read some of the parts and thought I would share some fun quotes:

"The miserable think that what they have is never enough. Like the Little Mermaid, who owned no fewer than twenty thingamabobs, they say 'But who cares, no big deal, I want more.' (How could you be miserable with twenty thingamabobs?) The miserable say, 'If only I had one of those, I'd be happy.' "

"The Imagi-Nation is a little country in your head. When you're young, you go there to play. When you get older, you go there to plan. But the miserable use the Imagi-Nation for only one thing - they go there to worry. Worrywarts are mountains on the relief map of the Imagi-Nation. The miserable listen to their doubts more than their faith. To remain miserable, you must visit the Imagi-Nation only to worry. You mustn't go there to dream, ponder or play. Using your imagination to worry will also ensure that you remain alone-no one wants to be around a worrywart, because worrywarts are contagious."