Today wasn’t a good day for me.

I had to go offsite for a work project to a location where relationships between many of the customers and co-workers are strained. I wasn’t sure of where I stood with a number of people, and didn’t feel as if I was at fault for that being the case. After a long day there, nothing occurred to relieve me of any degree of my angst.

During the day, I heard a co-worker that I’d never met ask another individual if he lived near a town not too far from my home. He didn’t, and then I interrupted and said I did. I though it was just going to involve a request for a ride, but it turned out to be a complex effort involving picking up and delivering manuals. I volunteered to do it.

Later, I began to ask myself if I did so motivated by psychologically unhealthy people pleasing, or out of nervousness, or from a desire to initiate a work-related ‘power play.’ But then I decided not to talk myself into believing any of those things. I concluded that I did what I did because I believe in the golden rule. It’s just how I roll.

The gesture will probably involve considerable inconvenience and some expense to me. I’m not sure that it will be taken in the spirit in which I intended it, and that doesn’t matter. It’s not a big deal, but I’m going to take a little personal and professional pride in what I did just the same.