As I was sitting at the drive through window at a local mixed soft drink store, I noticed the young woman who was taking orders and receiving payment was wearing a sweatshirt that had what I thought was a logo on the front. I finally got a good look at the words and saw this:
I Love you
Say it back
After she handed me the finished product and started to turn away from the window I asked her if I could ask a question?
She indicated that I could so I asked about the words on the sweatshirt. She spread the shirt a little so we could both read it. I asked what it meant to her? She didn't have a response other than she just likes the shirt. (It is a logo).
I said to her,
"I love you"
just to see what her reaction would be. Keep in mind I'm old enough to be her grandfather.
She and the other young women in the store started squealing with surprise and delight. Then I drove off.
I've shared this story with several people over the last months since it happened and they all smile and sometimes chuckle at the experience. which leads me to think that it may have just been happiness that the interaction at the drive through window caused - not joy. After all, happiness is fleeting but joy is something we can have every day.
Carlos Santana is quoted as saying, "If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment." (Rolling Stone March 16, 2020).
I'm discovering that one of the best ways to carry joy in my heart every day is to share that joy, in some small way, with others (the drive through window) even if it just brings a fleeting bit of happiness for the other person. I think that, sometimes, those fleeting moments bring about a simple joy as these interactions are shared with others.
I'm learning that brief but more in depth conversation with others can bring joyful moments. Beginning to learn about a co-worker and their family for example can cause a simple smile to blossom into a warmth in those relationships and cause a reverberation of joy through all future interactions between those involved. I sat at the break room table recently with a co-worker who I met, in passing, during my new employee orientation, many months ago. We had a great conversation about different topics related to the job I am currently serving in. We shared some personal and some general experiences that led to additional training and discussion. It was a good 2 hours of sharing that will help me be a better person and employee. I hope her view is the same as mine.
I came home later that day in a much better than normal mood (and I'm a pretty positive person) for a day of sitting in the office waiting for an assignment to come my way when none did.
I've had other similar opportunities to spend a few minutes to a few hours getting to know co-workers on a personal level. I guess I'm fairly easy to talk with. I have learned that I also am willing to share my life experience with others once a conversation has started. I understand that I am not always easy to approach and can be a little stand-offish at times. Once that wall comes down there is very little that will not be thoughtfully shared.
My belief is that we ought to take every opportunity to spend time listening to, and sharing with those around us.
Jim Rohn said, "The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keeps out the joy."
Today let's knock down some walls (or at the least, poke some holes) and let joy become a part of our day.
Thanks for checking in. More to come soon. See you then.
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