When I was at the checkout counter in a local store this week, I overheard a grocery bagger suggest to his co-worker that she go and take her break. She could have been his mother or aunt and was a bit resistant to begin with, maybe feeling in the flow of what she had been doing or a bit resistant to being told what to do by this younger checker.
He sensed her resistance and said to her, “Go on now. You deserve it.”
She looked up at him, smiled and walked away to take her break.
I commented to him how good it felt to hear him acknowledge to her that she really did deserve to go have her break now. I continued by saying that it has got to feel so good to everyone to have someone say “You deserve to have something that feels good.”
He responded with a smile saying that she is his favorite colleague so it was easy to say.
He continued and finished bagging my groceries.
I thanked him as I turned to leave and he said, “You’re welcome. Have a great day. You deserve it.”
I turned with a huge smile on my face and my heart open and warmed by his words. I thanked him again and felt the pleasure of being told by a stranger that I deserved to have a great day.
I walked out of the store and to my car beaming with pleasure and feeling such incredible warmth in my heart. I felt open and ready for anything.
The awareness of what I had witnessed taking place in front of me coupled with my own courage to reflect back my observation to this stranger who no longer felt like a stranger started a ripple of kindness and warmth that I took immense pleasure in being a part of.
I had glimpsed a sensitive part of this man who had dared to acknowledge the deservingness of his friend at work. Who knows how that affected the remainder of his own day?
It reminds me how simple and easy it can be to brighten and lighten someone’s day. And how powerful kindness can be anywhere and anytime.
Spontaneous words of kindness are like the pebble in a pond creating endless ripples of joy.
Mmmm, who’s next?
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