A middle aged man, professionally dressed eased to my register one day while I was at work. He stalled in the middle of the lane blocking any other customers from entering while he talked on his phone. So I inched my hand toward the end of his cart to pull it closer and allow the transaction to run as quickly and smooth as possible. He gave me an annoyed looked as if I’d interrupted, but I proceeded with my task at hand. I gave him the normal “Hey, how are you doing today? Did you find everything okay? Do you have your rewards call with you?” And after every question, I was answered with a chilling look and a self-reminder that this man clearly did not want me to talk to him. However, I continued doing my job.

I kept a smile, and once completing the transaction, I told him to have a great rest of his day. The next lady in line greeted me with the warmest smile, and while looking me directly in the eyes she said “I’m so proud of how you handled yourself and that situation.” We continued talking while I scanned her items, and she mentioned that she was happy to stay in my line no matter the wait because she’d noticed how positive and caring I seemed to be to every customer every time she came in. A few customers behind her agreed with her assessment and each told me their individual reasons for coming to my lane specifically. They said I brightened their days but in actuality they made me feel like a great employee and a great person. I left work that day knowing I’d accomplished what I’d set out, however the pessimist in me couldn’t help but wonder why this type of behavior I show is glorified. Why is it so out of the norm to treat people respectably that when someone does, it’s a surprise? I love feeling like I make a difference in someone’s life, but I hate that it’s because of the little things people so often forget to do. Like pausing a phone conversation or turning off your music while someone is trying to talk to you.

Or listening to complaints or concerns from customers no matter how relevant to you it may feel. People matter, their feelings and ideas matter, and if we all just took a moment to remember that when the tables are turned we’d want to be heard, society would run so much smoother.

Now I definitely don’t think my little sentiment will have any permanent effect of the world, but if I were to reach one person and get them to start their day off by saying “I will have a good day. I will smile when things aren’t going my way, and I will smile when they are.” If I can get someone to believe in the idea that emotions are contagious and what you say you’re speaking into existence, then I’ll feel like I’ve accomplished something. Because I know that person will pass on the message to the next and so on and so forth until eventually everyone is on the same track toward positivism. So start small. Your first day you may not be comfortable smiling to strangers, but smile to yourself. Tell yourself you’re amazing and valuable. Then the next tell yourself you’ll make at least one person feel that way. Eventually it’ll become such a habit you won’t be able to stop. Spread the love, share a smile, and most importantly, be that person you’d want someone to be to you.