Unexpected Gifts

The other day I went to the Rosewood Cafe in Tacoma which is one of my favorite spots to relax. Since the little guy was happily ensconced at home with his Nana and a bucket of play clay, I had no reason to rush. The cafe was unusually busy for a late afternoon, so I told Barry Watson, owner and all around good guy, to seat some people in professional attire and obviously short on time before me. I waited an extra 15 minutes for a table, but it was not inconvenient. Imagine my surprise when I was about to dig into to some tasty gingerbread a la mode at the end of my meal, and Barry mentioned that the people I had given up my first table for paid for my dessert. That small gesture left me happily floating through the rest of my day.

I do many things on a routine basis that are part of  the concept of common courtesy ingrained in me by my parents. These things make me feel good, and they demonstrate my respect for others. I hold the door for people, and thank them when they hold the door for me. I let that person miraculously escaping Costco with one item go ahead of me in line. I try to finish library books and return them quickly so someone else can enjoy them. I don't skip the gore and believe in the "zipper effect" when driving and merging. The list goes on, but the whole point is this: little gestures can make a big difference in someones day.

We all have the power to create lasting change. If we simply incorporated daily acts of courtesy into our lives, the effect would ripple outward and our world would become better. I am not talking about random acts of kindness like slipping a twenty into the Salvation Army Bucket. I am talking about the mundane, taken for granted, everyday things that all of us can do. Pick up that gum wrapper that slips out of your pocket. Smile at someone and tell them to have a nice day. Use words such as "please, thank you, and you are welcome." Give up your seat on the bus for an elderly person or a pregnant woman. Do whatever it is that you are moved to do.

The more things that you find to do for others, the more satisfaction you will find in yourself. It does not matter if you are closing the open freezer door at the market, or returning the five dollar bill you saw someone drop. Go forth and be courteous. Every positive choice you make will have an impact. You may never even know it, but sometimes someone else does something to remind you, like buying dessert.