“Not-So-Minnesota Nice”

Leaving the always terrific Clancey’s butcher shop in Linden Hills yesterday, I was chagrined to discover a black BMW parked scarcely 3″ in front of my car, effectively boxing me in.

Watching the situation unfold, Clancey’s busy owner, Kristin Tombers, came outside and introduced herself.

Kristin offered a description of the offender, and we briefly discussed my going into the restaurant across the street (where she apparently went) to find her.

Instead, I waited until the car behind me left, and I was able to pull out.

Gratitude — and its Opposite

In the meantime, to help cool me off, Kristin recommended an article she’d just read in this weekend’s Wall Street Journal, “An Attitude of Gratitude,” which discusses both gratitude and it’s opposite, entitlement.

My favorite line from the piece: “when parents organize their lives around their kids, those kids expect everyone else to as well, and that leads to entitlement.”

A big “Thank You!” to Kristin . . .  and the opposite to the entitled** driver of the BMW (MN License Plate “ASG 425,” if you happen to know her — or she’s reading this!).

**I’d say “oblivious,” but you don’t get within 3″ of someone’s front bumper by accident.

See also, “Showing Feedback & “Minnesota Nice.”

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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