Life Lessons Are Everywhere
Do The “Right” Thing
Walt Wallgren©
Life Lessons Are Everywhere
Do The “Right” Thing
Walt Wallgren©
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I collect and restore antique clocks. I love the elegant simplicity of 150 year-old technology that shows a pride of workmanship and quality that far outshines anything being made today. I love the gentle ticking sounds and I find them quite relaxing. As I sit here writing this, I am right next to a Grandfather clock that has been happily ticking and tocking for about 170 years. Virtually anything you buy today will be useless in 170 weeks. That’s progress? And, yes, I do own a smart phone. LOL,
In order to add to my collection, I visit antique shows, flea markets, auctions, eBay, Craigslist, and anyplace else that I might find something good. Yesterday, I was at my favorite antique flea market. I saw a clock I was potentially interested in and talked to the seller for a while. I decided I wasn’t ready to buy and told the seller that I would come back. Have you ever told a seller that you would be back and had no intention of returning? I know I have. You just didn’t want to be honest and say you didn’t want what he was selling.
When I attend a function like an antique show or flea market, I will usually go up and down every aisle with my radar on high alert. If I see something that catches my eye I will stop and talk with the seller. If it is something I must have I will negotiate on the spot but more likely I just have an interest and if that interest is high enough, I will tell the seller that I will be back. I write down the space number so I can remember and I endeavor to go back it I told the seller I would be back.
Yesterday was such a day, the clock that I mentioned above had some definite potential and his price was higher than I was willing to pay. So, after I had finished my rounds, I was ready to go home. I was tired and I didn’t really feel like going back because I was 99% sure I wasn’t going to buy the clock. But, I went back anyway. I talked to the seller for a little while longer and realized that we wouldn’t get to yes on this transaction. We shook hands and parted friends.
Now here is where it gets interesting. As I walked away, I noticed a clock in the booth right next to the one where I didn’t buy the clock. This clock was of a style that I don’t have. It is about 120 years old and after talking to the seller I bought it. So yesterday’s hunting expedition was a success.
Now, I had not seen this clock on my first walk through the show. If I hadn’t gone back to do the right thing I never would have seen it. Think about it. I was “rewarded by the Universe” for doing the right thing. Does this happen all the time NO! Does it always happen the same way? No, again. However, it does happen often enough for me to see a pattern that when I do the right thing I can (can not will) be presented with an opportunity that I would not have known about if I hadn’t done the right thing. Honesty alert! Do I always do the right thing? NO! But I am working on doing the right thing more so I can attract more and better opportunities into my life.