A Sincere Thanks Changes People

I was sitting at restaurant counter, the kind you find in an old diner,  reading junk on my phone and trying to ignore the little spats between the cook and the waiter. From what I gathered, the waiter kept getting in the way of the line cook and was "messing up the flow." As rude as the waiter was,  the cook's string of insults would have made anyone feel demoralized. There wasn't much love lost between these two.

Unfortunately my seat at the bar made me feel that I was the last physical barrier keeping these two guys  from throwing punches at each other. I was hoping I could fade into the background. Thus, the excessive interest in my phone.

Then a guy sitting a couple of bar stools away,  engaged the cook in a little chat,  "Hey man!  I loved that sandwich. It was awesome. Thanks for making it for me."

They traded a couple more sentences between them, then the customer paid and left. Not a big deal in the scheme of things, but what fascinated me was how the cook behaved AFTER the customer left; his mood lifted. I felt as though I saw the cook stand taller and smile ever so slightly.

The change was subtle and, for all I know, short-lived. But for a moment, I saw the kindness of a stranger lift and redirect the attitude of a man.

By saying "thanks" and offering a sincere compliment, this stranger left the man flipping eggs feeling valued and appreciated. He had given the cook respect and dignity.

Do you ever make ambitious goals for yourself only to realize you were so achievement-focused that you sacrificed common courtesies? Do you get too distracted to appreciate and express gratitude to the people who are serving you? I'm afraid I blow past people far more often than I'd like to admit.

But today, I'm going to keep the image of the cook in my mind.

Life is enriched when you show little kindnesses, acknowledge someone's value, and express sincere gratitude.

Keep an open eye and see where you can make even a little difference today!