Strangers

We encounter so many different people every day of our life. We see them at the drive thru taking our order, at the store cashing out our groceries, walking their dog past our house at the same time everyday. So many different people that we interact with countless times, and we have no idea what their life is like. Do they go to home to beautiful homes, small homes, nice neighborhoods, an apartment, is it cluttered, are they hoarders, are they collectors, are they funny, do they have enough to eat, the list of wonders can go on and on. I have always been a thinker and wonderer about people around me. We go through this world with a million other people everyday, millions of other people that have their very own life. I find it so intriguing. To these people I am just the car passing by, the drive thru order, the girl walking past their house, etc. I was in the drive thru last week ordering my usual from this restaurant, and when I pulled up to the window, I had the same gal waiting on me. She always smiles and has a sweet demeanor. I had asked for barbeque sauce on the side and she said, sorry the truck hasn't made it yet and we are out of stock, could I get you something else. I proceeded to ask what my options were and she rattled them off, and then said, hold on I'll be right back. I sat there patiently wondering what was happening. She came back with a little bowl with a lid and said she had gotten it off the salad bar, even though she wasn't supposed to because she likes me. I thought, really? Well, thank you, that was very kind. As I drove away, I wondered how I had made such an impression on this person through a drive thru window. I thought back to the tiniest of moments that I shared with her. I realized that I had at times made small conversation, asked how her day was, I believe we spoke about our kids at one point. Then I understood, that even the smallest moment we share with someone can leave the biggest impressions. She has no idea what my house looks like, what my title is at my job, what level of education I have, but she knew she was welcome in my presence.

This experience led me to wonder even more about the strangers we encounter everyday. Have I made an impression, have they left one on me? If we could understand that people have their very own lives, and at times we are but just a small fraction of what they see or know, and then decide to use those tiny moments to create a sense of welcomeness in our presence, we could become the one reason they haven't given up on believing there is still good in this world. We have become so used to being in a rush that we forget to slow down and live in every moment we are given. Those moments could mean more to someone than we ever know. I know there are moments that I have spent with people in my life that probably meant nothing to them, but meant everything to me. I challenge you today to leave an impression on someone. Say more than just "fine", when someone asks how you are, and encourage them to do the same. We hurry here and then hurry there, but we are missing so many somethings with people around us. We could be missing out on the one person that could change our perspective on everything, and being the one person that could change someone else's whole outcome. Our time is worth so much. We should feel a sense of responsibility in not wasting it. Live in every moment. Look around and take it all in, the sights, the sounds, the smells and take time to be the good that someone sees, if only for a a moment.