Don’t be a Jerkoff…Just be Nice
People are naturally nice, all you have to do is be nice first and the magical walls all of a sudden begin to fall down. Let a person see the real you and they’ll make an assessment right then and there. If its not meant to be then so be it, no time wasted on frivolous talk about the weather.
I was checking out at the food store the other day and as I approached the clerk I could see it in her eyes that I was being categorized as a typical New Yorker who probably wont even take their headphones out as they’re being rung up. I pulled my headphones out and we started talking about Christmas trees, I lobbied she get one but she said her mom wouldn’t be down for it, I proposed the scenario that one randomly show up at their apartment and deal with the consequences of her mom finding me and kicking my ass. As I left she thanked me for the 5 minute talk, I returned the thanks and told her ill be back in 10 minutes when the handles on my over packed bags break(my idea, hand up) . It only took about 20 steps.
Not to hard, right. Here’s another one from earlier this year:
I was recently in Barcelona and was food shopping(maybe food shopping activates the nice gene in me) at a local grocery store. This sweet old lady dropped some euro’s (coin form) as she was paying in front of me. I happily helped collect and return them to her and she acted as if I had solved world peace. She began smiling and laughing. This experience must have triggered some funny story or memory that needed to be shared, and she did. Now I’m paying for my own grocery’s and she’s right at my side telling me this riveting adventure, getting so into it that she would grab my arm at times (strongest 75 year old I’ve met). And might I add, I was as into this story as she was, the energy she was bringing was too electric to ignore. I nodded, smiled, was surprised and shocked all in a matter of 30 seconds. After about 5 minutes and a hell of a story she smiled gave me a hug and was on her way. All this came from helping a stranger, going out of my way to be nice. I bet by now you really want to hear what the story was about. Good, cause I want to unleash this knowledge on all of you.
Ready, here we go: I have no clue. Not a single word….. or sentence, or phrase, not a single anything. If you remember I’m on the outskirts of Barcelona at a local market, I have a high school level Spanish education(and no flashcards handy) that hasn’t been dusted off for 10+ years(in Barcelona they actually speak Catalan). I was trying to complete a purchase with a foreign currency, with a line of people waiting behind me and a little old Spanish lady telling me a story like she was an auctioneer moderating a heated battle for a storage locker (I’ve watched my fair share of Storage Wars – YEPPPPPPPPP).
It was an unbelievably ridiculous situation but it pointed out some interesting realizations for me:
- The power of listening is amazing. Think about it, I was able to make this lady’s day by listening to her story, nodding and making facial expressions. All without having a clue of what she was saying…..and she walked off happy as can be.
- Kindness is contagious. It helps you chill out…Less Stress=Happier Life
- Good intent is universal, no matter where you are , doing the right thing because its the right thing is self powering.
Go find you little old foreign lady and buckle up. Seeing the gratitude on a random persons face is a great feeling and a lot better than the alternative.
So don’t be a Jerkoff….Just be Nice
