I was not having a wonderful day. In fact, it’s been quite a frustrating day with one thing after another. Typically when I have these types of days, I look forward to a good, hard run later in the afternoon. Not today though! I did my 7 miles early in the morning…on the darn treadmill! I guess you can say my not so wonderful day started somewhere between “early” and “treadmill”!
My day wasn’t so terrible where I needed to bring in the big guns – my wife – for support! However, I had to think of a something to change my mindset. Locking myself in the office or venting to a co-worker was out of the question. I went for a walk but that didn’t work (see Take a Flight). The old “hang in there” and “it will all be over soon” just makes me more frustrated because someone other than me should be hanging…and soon!
Then, out of nowhere, I heard in my head: “Hello, it’s a wonderful day at Tabor Road Tavern!” That’s it. That’s what I needed! A silly, ridiculous but positive mantra. Using a mantra works when I need to push through a run or up a hill at mile 12, so why can’t it work for this? (But why this mantra? Not sure but maybe I was just hungry!) So, every time I was getting to that point of frustration, I’d say to myself, “Hello, it’s a wonderful day at Tabor Road Tavern.”
The mantra worked almost too well because I became distracted. I started to wonder if anyone ever called Tabor Road Tavern just to hear a cheerful sounding person on the other end of the phone say, “Hello, it’s a wonderful day at Tabor Road Tavern”.
Yes, of course I called them. Here’s how the conversation went:
Cheerful Person: Hello, it’s a wonderful day at Tabor Road Tavern. How may I help you?
Me: Uh, hello. Can I ask you a question? Has anyone ever called just to hear you say that it’s a wonderful day at Tabor Road Tavern?
Slightly Uncomfortable Person: Uh, not me personally but maybe someone has.
Me: Maybe someone just needed to hear someone, somewhere was having a wonderful day and that they knew such wonderfulness existed at your establishment.
Laughing Over the Phone Person: I wouldn’t put it past someone to have called for that reason.
Me: Just wondering. I needed to hear it today. Thanks for your time.
Still Laughing Over the Phone Person: You’re welcome. Any time.
It truly is a wonderful day at Tabor Road Tavern…and mine has gotten a bit better too.
Note: Tabor Road Tavern (www.taborroadtavern.com) is one of our favorite restaurants. In fact, the Harvest Group owns a variety of excellent establishments in the New Jersey area. I highly recommend you try them all!
I remember our lunch there! Should do it again sometime with our “big guns” though! Have a wonderful day!
LikeLike