6:15 AM this morning, I’m in line at my favorite Starbucks, I see my favorite cashier behind the register without her usual smiley face. My mind races, ‘she’s unhappy about something.  Should I say something?  What?’  My turn comes:

 

 

Her face changes, softens, she smiles broadly, pauses, then says, “Aww, that is so nice of you.”

 

The woman in line behind me repeats my sentence, “'You are the sunshine in my otherwise dreary day;' that is beautiful, I’ll remember, and use that.”

 

The guy behind her, smiles, winks at me.

 

Ericka returns with my coffee and, in a kind of halting manner says, “That really was beautiful. Thank you so much for saying that.” 


Her eyes seem moist, more so than a few seconds ago.

 

I left.

 

- - -

 

Now, I don’t share this so as to elicit your positive response (hell, I don’t even know if I composed the sentence on the spot or copied it) but rather, as a confession of being astounded at the power of words. Something the Universe has been trying to teach me for years.

 

Years ago I inscribed on the front page of my bound journal, a reminder; “Speak my truth gently … but surely,” because it is something I need to apply to my life, more than I do.

 

And with Erica? There, in an instant, my world changed as I changed my words ... a contribution was made to four people, without any effort, or cost.

 

It was just my way of saying thanks to her and telling her how much I appreciate her; something we all want, desperately. That’s probably why I’ve embraced the book, “365 Thank Yous.” (Also, a group here on OD.)

 

The strangeness?

 

The strangeness is, given how I was moved by the experience, why don’t I do it more often?
 

 
 

Best wishes, God bless,

 

Nunzio