Make Connections

Even in the unlikeliest of places

Yesterday, while my husband lay still under imaging machines, I sat in the waiting room with my watercolor kit and painted.

Yes, to pass time and to quieten the anxiety gnawing away relentlessly at me … but also to appreciate the tireless work of the receptionists gracefully handling waves of grievances, brusqueness and impatience.

These simple tokens of appreciation take only 10 minutes to make but mean a lot to the men and women who patiently hold space for countless strangers every day.

When I handed Delena’s bouquet to her, I said, “I noticed you had a book picked out for your break. I hope you’ll use this as a bookmark.”

Her eyes welled up. “Really? Thank you! It means so much. You’ve really made my day. Thank you for noticing me.”

It didn’t just make her smile, it brought a soothing wave of relief over me. There's so much we can't control in hospitals, but we can ALWAYS create ripples of kindness.

Next time you’re in a waiting room, perhaps think of it as an opportunity to create moments of connection?

That human behind the counter is just as worthy of being seen as you are.