For the last several months, I’ve been freelancing at an off-campus office of the NYU School of Law. One of my favorite aspects of the job is that I can walk to and from work in about 20 minutes.

On my walk home today, I had a personality crisis, and then, redemption of sorts.

Between Prince and Houston Streets, a group of young boys about 12 years old approached me. “Here, take this,” one boy said, thrusting some plastic wrapped red and white object to me. I didn’t know what it was, but I demurred. “No thank you,” I said. “You don’t want to take it?” the boy asked. The others snickered at him.

Tell me, what kind of person says no to a kid? I had to ask myself what was wrong with me. I’m like an ogre. When I’m old, wrinkled and gray, little boys might find me scary and mean. I decided I had to make a serious attitude adjustment. I would think, “Yes!” before thinking “No!”

This attitude readjustment wouldn’t apply to:
Strange adults on the street asking for money, drugs, whatever
Salesmen and women
Telemarketers
Credit card offers

So really, we’re talking about positivity mixed with reason, that’s what I am aiming for.

Then, as I was crossing Carmine, I think it is, I spotted a pink object on the sidewalk. Getting closer I realized it was a pink bootie and stopped to pick it up. Who dropped it? Up ahead on the next block was a couple pushing a stroller. Ah!

In my shrillest, most New-York-traffic-noise-piercing voice, I yelled, “Excuse Me!”

No response.

“Excuse me! Is this yours?”

The couple: “Oh, yes! Thank you so much. She always kicks her booties off”

So there, in the space of 15 blocks, a low, and then, redemption.

A walk on the streets is a lot like life.