Kindness DOES matter

Recently had a flight down to Dallas, TX on Southwest Airlines. Which I have to say was an experience…it’s more like riding a bus. You get on and people get off at various stops, at which time you are free to move about the cabin and change seats before the next group of riders comes on….the same thing happens at the next stop. I kinda liked the system and will definitely fly them again! However, I digress.

 It was during one of the stops (out of St. Louis – not to point the finger at any one city) that I learned the importance of the small things – a smile, a thank you – and the impressions we leave with others.

I was moving seats when I heard the seamstresses talking about the recent deplaning. They were saying how they’d never want to move to St.   Louis, because no one who deplaned there was ever happy. They never smiled, said thank you, met their eyes – or any of the simple pleasantries that show they are genuinely happy to be getting off the plane – after the bumpy flight and landing, I figured they were just airsick. After all, some of fondest memories are of St. Louis trips. I LOVE this city!

 You can bet that when I deplaned in Dallas, I was all about the smiling, saying thank you, wishing well, can’t wait to come again. I’m sure they are all wondering if I’m running for political office! But I wanted them to feel appreciated.

 It goes back to remembering to be grateful and to show appreciation, even if it’s just for someone doing their job. Your behavior can have a positive (or negative) impact on others. So, smile at lots of people today – they’ll feel like they forgot something and should know your name – really throws them off! Say a sincere thankful to the bagger at the commissary, look them in the eye! Make a difference!  Really make them wonder - say thank you and be polite to the poor kid sitting behind the counter at the gas station!

Have you ever had an experience where the positive (or negative) actions of another impacted you - regardless of how the other person might not have realized they were making an impact?

Comments

[Love My Tanker]

Thank you for the reminder of not only considering actions -but also considering facial expressions. Sometimes a smile is worth a thousand words and a simple thank you can make someone's day.

[Joan D'Arc]

I think this situation may apply to this post:

At work one day I was in the front office and did something really stupid (it was embarrassing when I realized a man in the waiting room saw me do it). So I smiled at this man as he looked at me with curiosity. Then I said, "Well, I just 'pulled a Joan,' and you didn't see that happen!" We both laughed and he asked me who "Joan" was. I told him it was my name and he said, "That was my late wife's name." This led to a wonderful conversation about his late wife. His face lit up when he talked about her and he was such a sweet man.

I had never met this man before in my life, but now when I see him in the waiting room, we share a smile and say hello.

So even embarrassing moments can affect someone's life (yours and others). At first I tried to laugh it off, but if I had not responded the way I did to the man that saw me, we would not have made this connection.

[Erin]

First off, what a bunch of whiny folks! St. Louis has an amazing USO staff and they were great when DH and I spent the night there when we were heading home.

It's all about "paying it forward." I'm a positive person by nature and I try to pass that along whenever possible, such as when I'm at a restaurant and the service is less than desireable. I give them the benefit of the doubt, since I waitressed for 9 years.

[wendy's tiki hut]

I believe in smiling. smiling at people is one of my favorite things! I just wrote about it today, in fact. How funny!