Don't save

I have a tendency to want to save people before they even know that they need saving, and when I follow through with that tendency, it usually ends up in a mess of confusion and misunderstanding that I then need to untangle.

As someone very close to me has said many times, "No good deed goes unpunished." Well, of course, that's not entirely true. But, I'm pretty sure many of you good-hearted, well-intentioned people who are reading this article can relate to what I am saying.

Recently, I saw a sales receipt in my email that showed that someone had purchased a Dr. Peebles Speaks mp3. But, it wasn't the most current mp3, it was the previous one. Due to some changes in my newsletter layout, some people inadvertently click the wrong "BUY NOW" button, and end up re-purchasing an mp3 that they have already purchased.

So, when I saw the sales receipt for the previous mp3, I immediately assumed that the woman who purchased it, did so in error. Concerned, I began to compose an email to her to that effect:

"I see that you have purchased the July 4 mp3 which you may have already purchased. Did you actually intend to purchase the August 13 mp3? If so, I will refund your money for July 4 so that you can purchase...."

As I was composing the email, I heard very clearly that I was not to try to save her. I realized that, if she purchased the wrong mp3, she would contact me, and I would make things right as I always do. I took a deep breath, and I closed the window of the email that I was composing. But, before it would close, a popup presented two buttons for me to choose from. It was asking me if I wanted to “Save” or “Don’t Save” the draft of the email.

I laughed at the irony, as I clicked, “Don’t Save.”