1 good deed = 1 punishment ?

Happy all things green.

Today started out well enough but a distressing thing happened whilst taken my treadmill walk.  I shall set the scene a bit for contextual authenticity. Last week a senior had run into the glass door at which time her sunglasses gave her left eye a one two punch that left her with a nice shiner. She was there today. Fast forward to me beginning my treadmill experience.  Once I'm set up, I like to nose around while I walk. See who is there, how much faster than I am they are, as well as glancing at the TVs.

Up walks a little old lady. Her headphones are nearly bigger than her little head. She takes off on the treadmill at quite a higher speed than me. I'm 2x her weight so I quickly cut myself some slack. She trots along gaining my admiration with each minute. I mean she looks like a walk to the mailbox will wipe her out but no!

That's when it happened.  In my nosiness, I see that her shoe string is untied. I can't take it. What if she trips, takes a header and gets seriously hurt?  On the floor it would be awful, on the treadmill at her age, could be deadly.  I considered many scenarios. Tell the counter clerk who looks to be around 16 and has no command. Two women finished their workout and I considered flagging them down to gently inform the old lady. Then I was concerned that the ladies might not speak English. Finally, because I couldn't bear it any more, I paused my machine, trotted over to her and climbed up in the treadmill beside her. I got her attention and told her. She shortly acknowledged me and went back to her walk.

I climbed aboard and reinstated my workout.  Grandma Moses continued on with her workout. Finally she stopped and left. Seven minutes later she returned and climbed aboard another treadmill for another five minutes. I will not lie. I stewed. I didn't expect gushing thanks for saving a life, but gee a little less "drop dead" look would have not been out of place.

I focus on the direction my heart led me to. I cannot control others response to me but I 'stepped' out of my comfort zone and that's the real prize.