Times are tough, tougher for some than for others, markedly. Yesterday in the salon a woman was sitting with foil on her hair. I walked by with the trash and she stared at me, followed me with an intense gaze. I smiled at her and she just stared. Any number of things may have been going on with her, most of them benign, but I noticed and I noted. As I walked to the dumpster Clint’s line from Hang ‘Em High popped into my head: “When you hang a man you better look at him.”

It’s such a small thing but when people are stressed small things can take on a greater significance. Mars is squaring Neptune. Your actions may be misinterpreted. Be aware. Be aware of the signals you’re sending. A stare like that in a bar could get you in a fight. And I will remember. It makes me suspicious of her because her actions were covertly aggressive and unreadable (Mars Neptune).

Last night my son checked out at a store and shoved the change in his pocket. He got out to the car, pulled out his change and realized the gal had given him a five rather than a one. He knew if he went back and tried to rectify the situation he might be looked at with suspicion, but he has integrity so he went back. I’ve met a lot of people who would sell their integrity for four dollars, and I remember that fact indefinitely.

The cashier was very relieved. She had realized her mistake immediately after he left. Had he not returned she would have remembered him, and not in a good light. He did it for integrity’s sake, but it’s also a good lesson in human relations. People remember how you act. They remember how they perceive you in a given moment and it colors the way they see you and treat you. Be mindful of your actions, especially now.

Do your actions reflect who you think you are?