January 4, 2011
Smile and the world smiles with you. Isn’t that a song or something? Today I shared a smile and made a nameless face a friend. You see, I have never been a good cook. What in the heck does that have to do with anything? Let me explain.
I don’t really cook (at least not well) but one of the things I do to make my house a home and make sure my family knows they are special is I buy fresh bread. Two or three times a week I go to Dakota Bread to buy fresh challah. If Shelby’s peanut butter sandwiches or Noah’s French toast were to ever be made with grocery store Wonder Bread I would take it as a personal failure. It is a simple errand which transfers in my heart as a loving gesture. It occurred to me today that while I have been going to Dakota Bread for the last ten years, at least twice a week, I have missed 1,040 opportunities to make a personal, human connection. Today I changed that. While it took a bit of courage, as I didn’t want to look like a stalker, I introduced myself to Sue, the lovely woman at the counter. This is what I said – and I encourage you to try it. “Hi! I have been coming here for years and see you many times a week. It occurred to me today that I have never known or asked you your name. My name is Dena.”….That is all it took for a wonderful connection to begin. My genuine effort transformed a sterile bread transaction into a warm conversation that will carry into the days and weeks to come. Challah at ya’ latah Sue.
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