Standing in lines is a year-long reality. Even the self-checkout lines at the grocery store can be 3 or 4 people deep these days. But, this time of year is especially "line heavy." We all head to our favorite coffee shop for the seasonal flavor. We (and everyone else) have to stop at the post office to mail a package of cheer to family and friends who have moved away.
These lines can be long. They can be boring and annoying. Or, we can find a way to infuse a bit of joy into our day as we're standing and waiting. It takes just a touch of kindness to turn these everyday waiting moments into little bright spots.
Here are a couple of ideas:
- Make eye contact: It’s easy to bury your nose in your phone, but a smile shared with the person behind you goes further.
- Say something nice: Compliment a stranger’s scarf, or tell the clerk you appreciate her.
- Be patient: The person in front of you may be sending a package abroad for the first time. It takes more energy than it should for me to remember NOT to roll my eyes! But everyone appreciates it when I'm patient.
Has a stranger ever held the door for you? Or moved a bag so that you could sit on public transportation? Maybe let you check out ahead of them at the grocery store because you had fewer items in your arms than they had in their cart? Simple acts of kindness that still make me smile. And any chance to return the act -- to pay it forward -- is another reason to smile.