I just had to tell everyone about this!
Yesterday I went shopping. I had some letters to post and then I decided to look round the charity shops, it was quiet for the time of year and I avoided the busier bigger shops. I also had my headphones so the noise of people and traffic didn’t overwhelm me.
I ended up down the street that has Peacocks on it and I saw in the shop window that they currently have a 60% off deal and I remembered my mum saying she wanted a new cardigan this Christmas so I thought well it doesn’t hurt to have a look round. I rarely go in to clothing shops, I tend to get all my clothes online if at all possible. But Peacocks was oddly quiet so I decided to go for it.
But when I went in it was like being in a hospital. The lights on the ceiling were so bright, it was horrific, straight away I was trying to close my eyes and squinted as I walked around. One of the staff noticed (I expect everyone noticed!) and she came over and asked if I was ok.
I struggle talking to people and have an autism ID card and I was luckily carrying it. I showed it to her and then remarkably she said oh are the lights too bright for you. I said yes (yay me actually saying something) and then she did an amazing act of kindness for me.
She dimmed the shop lights and my anxiety began to settle and I was able to open my eyes properly and I felt the impending feelings of a meltdown begin to lift and flutter away like a leaf in the wind. If she hadn’t done this I probably would have had a meltdown and not gone out again for the next couple of months.
I was tired afterwards I always am when I’ve been out but I knew this morning I had to come on here and share this story of kindness. I was able to take my time and look around Peacocks and I found my mum a nice snowman jumper, and a hat and scarf set. The shop assistant was so kind and patient, she spoke the bare minimum (I think she realised I struggle with speech) and when I left I saw her go to the small circular switch gizmo on the wall and turned the lights back up.
This woman’s kindness made a huge difference to me yesterday. What a nice person and what a great day!
