Reach out and be kind
A couple of days ago, I was in the checkout line at Safeway when I noticed the bagger lacking the usual enthusiasm — you know, the quick smile and the “how are you doing?”
There was a heaviness in her demeanor that I couldn’t quite put my finger on but kind of stayed with me as I walked back to my car.
I usually carry a stash of handmade gratitude tags that I hand out to helpful folks but giving her a tag that said “thank you” didn’t quite fit the bill.
So, I went through my glovebox collection and found this little handmade token that said ‘stay strong.’
I had made it a while ago as a personal reminder during a live mixed media class for my (now defunct) membership community.
I stared at it for a moment, my heart racing, my mind questioning the sanity of what I was about to do.
It’s not easy to walk back up to a stranger and presumptuously hand them something you think might lift them up.
Would she think I was weird?
Would she freak out?
Would I make her uncomfortable?
This wasn’t, after all, my “typical” gratitude tag.
But then I thought: what if this small gesture could brighten her day, even just a little?
I took a deep breath, walked the 50-odd steps and as soon as we made eye contact, I handed it to her.
She was surprised. And touched.
The smile that reached her eyes said it all.
It’s scary to reach out sometimes, to show we care — especially if we don’t know the person.
We worry about being judged, misunderstood or even ridiculed.
But in these fleeting moments of connection, I am reminded why it’s always worth the risk.
Over the last seven years, I’ve handed out thousands of these little tokens of love, appreciation, gratitude and encouragement to restaurant servers, delivery drivers, librarians, custodians, receptionists, teachers, store attendants, window cleaners — the unsung heroes of our daily lives.
Each time, I’m met with surprise, joy, and often, a hug.
That is the power of a humble piece of paper.
This is the human connection we all crave.
We’re all fighting unseen battles.
Maybe by sharing our own vulnerabilities, by opening our hearts, by taking a moment to truly see someone, we can add a touch of humanity to our shared experiences.