It's amazing to me how that by doing something that isn't expected, you can alter someones day completely.
I.E.
I was my local grocery store waiting in line to get rung up. While i was waiting i was listening to the cashier talking to the lady she was ringing up about how she is going to indiana to meet her sister and see her sisters newborn. What no one else seemed to notice was the bag lady, who appeared to be handicapped, was also trying to tell them about how she as well has a trip to indiana. The two others completely ignored her and kept talking over her. The bag lady politely quieted down and looked away slightly defeated.
It was finally my turn to be cashed out. When i arrived i looked directly at the bag lady and said, So i hear you're going to indianapolis, what brings you there? Surprised she looks up at me eyes full of light and life, the cashier starts to talk over her as she tries to answer me and i look at her and say, No i wasn't talking to you, i was curious about what she had planned pointing at the bag lady. Almost offended the cashier asks me, why would you want to talk to her, but by then i was already talking to the bagger again. I found out she was going to visit her aunt and that she would be spending a weekend there with her so that they could hang out. It was awesome. The cashier looking like someone had slapped says to me, "if you didnt like the wait you could have just gone to the self check out. "
While i left i waved goodbye to the bagger and said adieu to the cashier, the bagger now with a lively little spring in her step because someone decided to take the time to listen to her.
It's amazing the difference in someones day a simple kind gesture can do for them.
