Just Do What Chiquita Tells You

A small blue, oval sticker on a Chiquita Banana in the grocery store reads, "Place Sticker on Forehead. Smile." Considering that it perhaps may be beneficial to do so for some reason or another, I place the sticker on my forehead and continue on my way throughout the grocery store.

Aside from the random stare here and there that I received from only a couple people throughout the store, most people didn't notice that the sticker was on my forehead and continued on their way. The checkout lady, however, did ask me if I was, in fact, a Chiquita Banana. But other than that, very few people did notice. And that is fine with me considering that I am not the person to go out looking for attention. I just merely did what the sticker on the Chiquita Banana said to do: "Place Sticker on Forehead. Smile."

Reflecting upon that phrase, however, can have a very different meaning and may even be a motto for some people, or should be, throughout their lives. All you have to do is do what the sticker says and you'll be okay. Actually, sometimes that's all you can do. That, however, is not to say that you should not have any feelings or emotions whatsoever. But the whole point is that maybe, and sometimes more often than not, people get too worked up over nothing. I, myself, am guilty of this crime. Following my grocery store sticker escapade, only a few minutes later on that evening I was sitting inside my car in the parking lot when all of a sudden this other car plows right into the driver's side door. Even though it didn't do much damage, if any at all, I still did get quite worked up over it. There was no reason for that, however, because the damage had already been done. I would have been better off to do what the sticker had told me to do: "Place Sticker on Forehead. Smile."

It is in these little everyday situations and annoyances that provoke a little bit of anger and frustration that should instead provoke kindness and gratefulness. For example, I should have been grateful that the person who bumped into my car was not driving at full speed. For those situations, however, Chiquita has the answer: Do not become outraged, filled with anger and resentment, but instead, just "Place Sticker on Forehead. Smile."