Every day, we come across so many different people, but we can be so busy being wrapped up in our own lives that we don’t pause to take the time to notice them. It’s time to take notice! You never know who you will meet! Not only could you be missing out on a great chance to engage in interesting conversation, but you could also be missing out on a job opportunity, a few good laughs, and some pretty amazing feel-good moments.
True story… On a flight to Brazil to see my friends, I cashed in my savings to upgrade my plane ticket to first class so I could SLEEP (I have trouble with this as it is…I need to be horizontal with prime sleeping conditions!) It was my first experience with “fine flying”! An elderly gentleman (approximately 75-80) limped in and sat down in the seat next to me. He introduced himself and we started up the small talk. Turns out, he was a movie producer and hurt his knee falling off a camel in Egypt the week before! I couldn’t even make a story like that up! The flight attendants kept bringing us bubbly and the stories flowed just as fast. One of our attendants was wearing a pink breast cancer ribbon pin on her lapel. He commented to her that he hoped she wasn’t wearing it because she lost someone to cancer. She said SHE was the one recovering – for the second time. She said she kept her job because she loves traveling, she needed the distraction, and it helped her pay the extra bills.
Nothing short of amazing happened next… He took off a really big, ruby and diamond ring from his finger, grabbed her hand, put it in her palm, and closed her fingers over it. He told her he admired her and wanted to do something to help. He said the ring didn’t matter to him. She cried and cried (along with the entire first class cabin.) But they were all tears of joy about a stranger helping someone in need. That was the best flight ever in SO many ways. And YES…after all that…I slept GREAT.
Thank those who serve in the military, the local police or fire departments, and those who spend their days making sure others are safe, happy, healthy, and taken care of! They give so much of themselves to help all of us, and you never know when you may be on the receiving end.