Karma Came Knocking Today. My Cost...95 Cents!

Karma made an appearance today in a big way for me.

Most times we don’t really notice it and many times it comes so late after the fact that we don’t make the connection at first. My experience today was almost instantaneous and so out there that I had to stop baking for a few minutes in order to sit down and share it with my fellow ATS’ers.

First off, for those of you that said my Pizza/Bakery/Chinese Food Take-Out was too crazy to work and wouldn’t work...You Lose! Almost 8 Months later and still growing.

Ok, back to the Karma thing:

For the last few days there has been a Church Conference of sorts being held in the Community Center next to our store. Don't ask me what denomination or anything because I have no idea. About 100 people per day from what I’ve been told. We were actually asked to cater a part of the event so we gladly accepted. Just sweets and of course our soon-to-be-World-famous Cinnamon Buns! But that’s not the story...just had to throw it out there.

As in any group of people there are always a few Celiacs on the hunt for Gluten Free (GF) Goodies and this group is no different. Since we are only across the parking lot we have been doing a lot of business for this group and the word spread that we also have Gluten Free items. So of course the celiac crowd has to check us out. If you know of the GF diet, you also know that to find GF food while on the road away from home is a difficult and frustrating thing. And when you do find a store that offers it, it’s usually a few items, pre-packaged from large corporations, frozen and expensive. Not always but 90% of the time. And did I mention that 90% of that is also pretty disgusting?

Anyhoo...in come the GF folks and the eyes get larger and larger as they gaze at our (GF) shelves of Sunday morning, freshly baked cookies, blueberry muffins, carrot cake, sweet potato bread, pizza crusts, lemon and orange loaves etc...much of it still warm. Not new to us but so rare for the GF crowd. Needless to say, those shelves got emptied very quickly...not complaining.

But here’s the Karma part:

One lady only had a $5 bill on her and no cards. She asked me what she could buy for a breakfast snack for $5. We had nothing below $5.95. Cookies, Muffins etc. But hey, what’s 95 cents? I gave her a bag of warm blueberry muffins for the $5. She wasn’t ready to accept. “Are you sure?” she asked. And in my ever so eloquent mastery of the English language, I said “Yup!”.

She asked if I wanted her ID or a promissory I.O.U. of some sort. “Nope” I said. Just enjoy. Most of these people are from out of town anyways so I assumed I’d never hear or see from her again. No biggie.

Well, 1 hour later I see her coming out of the Community Center and heading for my store again. I figured she scrounged up the 95 cents and was coming back to settle up. Which I neither asked for nor expected. She walked up to the counter and hands me a $20 bill. I told her that it wasn’t expected and not to worry about. Consider it a gift (.95 cents) lol. And she tells me that the $20 is a tip! Excuse me?

Naturally I ask her what she’s talking about. I thought I was just going to make change for the 20 dollars if she persisted in paying. We’re a take-out and didn’t really do anything except sell her a few muffins. She said it’s a tip for being so generous earlier. Well, I’m shocked. I start to refuse the money and hand it back to her but she wouldn’t take it. I told her it wasn’t necessary...really. If I can’t do a customer a favor once in awhile, it’s not worth it. My philosophy. And she said that if she can’t repay a kindness once in awhile, it’s not worth it either. And that is HER philosophy.

She is returning to her home in a few days and will be telling her friends to stop in to get their GF goodies whenever they travel through this way.

So there you have it folks. Karma is alive and well even when we look around and see crap up to our eyeballs. I know it took a bit longer than I planned to tell the story but I just wanted to explain it as well as possible.

Best 95 cents I have ever spent!

Peace

reply to post by jude11


Good for you!
and the best to your business.
A little generosity goes a long way.

Originally posted by GmoS719
reply to post by jude11

 

Good for you!
and the best to your business.
A little generosity goes a long way.

I was shocked to the point of being rendered speechless...almost.

If you knew me, that's an event in itself.

Peace

reply to post by jude11

That is fantastic! Your kindness was returned twentyfold. Also, I am one of those who has to look for GF food now, and it's wonderful that you are baking gluten free goodies! Such a treat to find ANY good GF baked goods. Thanks for keeping them on the shelves. Where is your shop? If I ever travel your way, I'll defintately stop in...

Originally posted by gwynnhwyfar
reply to post by jude11

 

That is fantastic! Your kindness was returned twentyfold. Also, I am one of those who has to look for GF food now, and it's wonderful that you are baking gluten free goodies! Such a treat to find ANY good GF baked goods. Thanks for keeping them on the shelves. Where is your shop? If I ever travel your way, I'll defintately stop in...

We're in the Southern Mountain area of BC. If you ever get around here, U2U me and I'll guide you in!

Peace

reply to post by jude11


Will do, and may your success continue for your lovely new business!

reply to post by jude11


Thank you!! I love hearing stories such as yours... I always carry change in my pocket in case a customer is short a few cents. I wish more people in this world were like us. I always say "What goes around, comes around." And this is true. I've seen it many times... How nice good karma!!

Originally posted by starkite2003
reply to post by jude11

 

Thank you!! I love hearing stories such as yours... I always carry change in my pocket in case a customer is short a few cents. I wish more people in this world were like us. I always say "What goes around, comes around." And this is true. I've seen it many times... How nice good karma!!

I have been having some great experiences in the new shop. Not all good but most.

Meeting a bunch of great people that are cause for a bunch of great stories to tell the grand kidlets is all I can ask for before I die.

Peace

you have such uplifting threads jude11 - i especially like the one pronouncing yourself "saint butter biscuits" - www.abovetopsecret.com... - love the title -

"karma came knocking today" is especially good - kindness has its rewards - i believe you have especially good karma -

"It is the characteristic of the magnanimous man to ask no favor but to be ready to do kindness to others."

-Aristotle - www.betterworld.net...

TextBe not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13 American King James Version - kjv.us...

we certainly need more kindness in a world so full of hate today!