Earlier in the week I suggested to people that they should do something different this week. Get out of the routine. Do something they normally don’t do to shake things up a bit. Gain a new experience. Of course I had to as well. So instead of making eggs at home I decided to go to McDonald’s. Now for you that know me, that is something that is so rare that I can probably count on one hand the times I’ve been to a McDonald’s in the last few decades.
I went inside and decided I wanted some coffee, scrambled eggs and bacon. I had no idea if they offered that because I couldn’t see it on the menu. I went up to the front and asked if I could just get scrambled eggs and bacon. I don’t eat bread so no muffin for me. The order taker said of course and put my order in. Next to me was an older gentleman that had just gotten his bag of food. I’m not sure what he had in the bag but he overheard my order. He then looked at the menu, looked at me, then at them and asked in a soft, almost apologizing voice, “Can you order just scrambled eggs and bacon? I don’t see it on the menu.” The order taker said; “Oh, yes, you can order anything that we have.” And the man said; “But it’s not on your menu.” And the lady said: “Oh, we have a lot of options that’s not on the menu.” The man looked at me and thanked me. Clearly for opening his eyes to the fact that he had never thought of asking if he could order something that was not on the menu.
I’m glad that I was there to help expand the view for a complete stranger. I am quite sure that for the rest of his life he will dare to ask, dare to think outside the box a little bit more and not just go where the herd is asked to go. Next time he goes into McDonald’s he will be able to get the breakfast he wants.
All it takes is to ask. But how come so many don’t? I don’t have the answer to that but I hope that this story inspires you to ask, to think outside the box, to think outside the menu. I hope it inspires you to not hold back and wonder if you should ask, if it’s okay, what others will think, but to listen to what you want. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? Chances are that you will get what you wanted.
And always, do something different here and there. Because if you do the same thing over and over again, you simply can’t get a different result. By the way, despite knowing how full of hormones and what not those bacon strips and scrambled eggs contained I was pleasantly surprised to say it was a good breakfast.
So what out of the box thing did you do this week? And what new experience or result did you gain?
Thanks for the reminder to believe that we don’t need to stick to the menu!
Never stick to the menu unless it has the item on there that you want. 🙂
Great post! Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks! It’s so easy to go along at times we all need to remind ourselves to just ask and think outside the box at times.
Thanks for this. I can’t say that I’ve done anything too out of the box this week, but this is a wonderful reminder. I am guilty of not asking for what I want for fear of the response. I think this is a false fear – because what is the harm? In reality, those who are able to get ahead in life are the ones who EXPECT to get the answer they want 🙂
It is a false fear. We often create an answer in our head assuming that’s what the answer will be, without even asking. I think most of us are guilty of not asking at times. But you are right, the ones that do always gets ahead because they know that majority of the time they will get the answer they expect. Great points Maggie!
I don’t know that I specifically did anything out of the box. But considering I’m kind of living outside the box, I think I’m okay. 🙂
I love that you are living your life authentically and outside the box. Never stop doing that 🙂
Great post! I think this applies not only to asking for things, but to doing things. Earlier this summer, my husband and I traveled out of town to see two of our favorite bands in concert. While we were hanging out at a coffee
shop near the venue, one of the bands tweeted that they were doing sound checks. My husband got the crazy idea to tweet back to both bands and ask if they wanted some coffee. Long story short, we ended up taking our favorite band coffee, they were extremely blessed by it and we got to chat with them after the show. It was one of the best experiences ever, all because my husband did something that seemed crazy…I mean what were the odds of them replying, right? Never be afraid to take a chance.
This is spot on! Thanks for sharing this. Love it! Your story and your husbands “crazy” idea to tweet the bands is a perfect example of what we can gain if we just ask. Now, of course they could have ignored the tweets or answered back no, but if you hadn’t asked at all you would not have known. Instead it turned into one of your best experiences ever. Way cool!
great insight, I’m guilty of thinking that whatever is posted is only what’s available. This goes for menus and life.
Thanks! I’ve learned that you can almost always get what you want if you just ask. Now, getting a free upgrade to first class when flying used to be a lot easier. Now the answer always seems to no, but I still ask. You never know.