I can’t put my finger on it, but lately I’ve been experiencing zen-like situations at gas stations. Of all places to get in touch with my Buddhist or Chi side, a gas station never sprung forth in my mind as a location to have personal revelation. Typically when I pull up to the pump all I want to do is fill up my car and move on, but for the past few weeks that hasn’t always been the case.

Just the other day a gentleman who looked to be in his late-50s was chatting with his work buddy as he filled up their truck. His hair was completely white and he resembled, at least to me, W.C. Fields. His face was covered in grease and his hands looked like torn leather, but his smile was geniune. As I glanced over he chuckled to himself and said, “Life’s too short to not have fun.”

Now in my lifetime I’ve been reminded of this many times, by my family and my friends, but it hits a stronger chord when it’s coming from someone who, at least upon first impression, doesn’t seem like a person who would heed that kind of advice. I guess this should be coupled with, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”.

I smiled back, lifted the nozzle and slid it back into its resting place and thought to myself that when we are most vunerable in our daily lives, worrying about financial issues, sick relatives and other things to occupy our minds, it’s always nice to remember that there is someone or something out there to remind us that life is too short to not have fun every once in awhile.