This is a picture I took from the plane as I was returning from a recent business trip. The sunset was beautiful, and I was very happy to be getting back to my family.
I had also just bought a bag of Mike and Ike for my sons - getting them a little souvenir when we travel is a tradition.
"I'd like the Mike and Ike." This is what I told the checkout person when I placed the bag for her to scan.
"What..?"
I repeated myself. It took three times, before she understood what I was saying. I eventually had to explain. " I decided to buy the Mike and Ike for my kids."It turns out, she wanted to explain, that most people don't speak with her when they cash, they just say "Here" and push the items to her, so she was very confused when I spoke to her and and actually called out the name of what I was buying.
It made me feel sad, that folks are so busy that they don't take the time to appreciate, no, just exchange a few words with the people they encounter.
I also saw it later when I took the shuttle back to my car at the airport - the driver was an older gentleman, grandfather type. Aside from letting my mind wander about the circumstances that had him driving a shuttle bus at 9:00 at night, I observed.
He was very mindful of his passengers; he told everyone (except me because I am short), to watch their step in case they hit their heads as they were stepping out. He even said to one passenger, "Watch your head, son." It was sweet but sad, because again, I am not sure that it even registered to the person he was speaking to.
While I cannot change what others do, I can certainly change me. It makes me happy to be mindful of the people around me, and to recognize them and speak with them, be kind, no matter what they do or what time of day it is.
Coincidentally, I came across this article, referenced in one of my magazines 5-ways-to-develop-kindness-and-generosity . Take a read, it won't take long.
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