It’s Been a Pleasure Sharing Friendly With You

I’ll admit… I’m a glass is half full (or ¾ full-- selective sight) type of girl.  I’m generally happy, smiley, and bubbly.  On the rare occasion that I’m grumpy… I try to hide, to preserve my image and to protect innocent bystanders.  However, if you catch me while I’m hungry and frustrated (also known as "hangry"), then watch out.  At these times, I've got a short fuse.  And this is why, after a specific incident on Monday, I’ve begun keeping granola bars in my desk drawer. It keeps the Incredible Hulk at bay.  I digress.

When I am out and about in the world (grocery store, dry cleaners, library, post office, etc), I try my best to be pleasant and courteous to the service professionals that are aiding me.  After all, is it really the cashier’s fault that her line is wrapped around the store because there are no other cashiers?  Nope, not her fault.  She’s feeling enough stress without my being a grumpy butt during our exchange.  So I smile and chat and try to make her job easier.  I’ve been in her shoes. I actually find myself there fairly often.

Being Dolly Parton’s biggest fan, I subscribed to her philosophy… “If someone doesn’t have a smile, give them yours.”  Isn’t that just perfect?  So, I do my best to share as many smiles a day as possible.  Yes, I’m a smile sharer. It costs me nothing, and I’ve got an unlimited supply. And because I meet around 15 new people per day, this comes in handy.

I notice and remember particularly nice exchanges I've had as a consumer with the working public. They cement themselves in my mind.  There is a McDonalds (I don’t even really like McDonalds), that I will go out of my way to stop for a diet coke, because the people who work there are so nice.  It doesn’t matter if you go through the drive through or go inside, friendliness encompasses. They are personable. And doesn't everyone like a real person better than a robot? They share their thoughts... "nice sunglasses", or ask about your day... "how's your day going?" Is the food better or the service faster?  Not really. It just feels good to be in a place where people are happy and sharing. 

I can also recall a massage from about 4 years ago.  The massage wasn’t anything special (except for I didn’t feel molested after… but this is a different blog for a different time).  It was the masseuse and the staff at the spa.  They were so personable, and genuine, and helpful, and for lack of a better word… nice. 

When has being nice to each other become an unusual occurrence?  I’ll admit, I don’t live in the friendliest city in America.  I really think New York City is probably friendlier than Dallas. Seriously. People aren't really helpful here.  Or friendly.  It's as if everyone is stumbling around in a fog of  consumerism, materialism, and misery.  Yuck. 

But, last night I went to dinner with some friends. It was a good night, and a bit different to what I'm accustom.   We went to a restaurant I’d never tried, that is located in my old neighborhood.  This neighborhood is a Dallas address, but is really not like Dallas at all.  It’s its own little city- the OC (Oak Cliff).  Dinner made me really miss my old hood.  Why? As some of you know, I moved because of the nearby gun fire one evening.   The reason I felt a tinge of home sickness, was because everybody was and is still so friendly (aside from the armed robbers).  Last night, the atmosphere was relaxed.  The place, Bolsa, was packed.  Diners and waitstaff were on top of each other, but no one was irritated.  Everyone was happy (diners included) and friendly.  The two men sitting at the table next to us (so closely that if my friend had been left handed and the man had been right handed… we would have had an issue), begged us to try their gourmet flatbread pizza (we didn’t because I had ordered the same thing) and also their steamed mussels.  They went as far as to dip their garlic bread in the excessive bowl of “buuuuuuddder” the mussels were soaking in, and pass it across. Because, "you just have to taste this”.  Of course this began a lively discussion of our favorite restaurants. We all shared the ones we had tried and ones we were dying  to try. We shared our favorites, and laughed and chatted.  It was lovely.  Lovely to just connect with someone who you will never see again, and share.  Isn’t sharing wonderful?

I have my share of short comings for sure.  I’m impatient at times.  I have little tolerance for immaturity.  I tend to hold a grudge after someone has burned me 3 times.  Yes, 3.  I judge parents who don’t parent their children in public, and allow them to run wild like little hooligans. I try not to share or convey my negative attributes.  Instead I strive to be friendly, genuine, and I hope after all these years, I’ve learned to share.  To me, sharing is priceless.  It’s the gift that can’t be quantified.  Share a smile. Share a compliment. Share a funny story. Share your heart. Share your resources. Share your thoughts. Share your meal. When done correctly (don't share your negativity and your grumpiness), sharing feels good to both the giver and the receiver.  So today, for me,  it has been my pleasure sharing friendly with you. Now, go share something nice with your dry cleaner or your grocery store bag boy.  They've earned it.