A little goes a long way....

A little what, you might ask?
I have a lot of them, but today's blog will focus on:
Kindness
I gave up sweets for Lent (does eating Lucky Charms cereal count as a sweet? Never mind.....it's too late to ask about that, now. Easter is coming in two days). I also took on a spiritual practice that I had always done in the past....but maybe not the 1st priority of my day. I have done daily prayers (by the bed on a kneeler, with both Labs' noses touching my nose) as a first thing in the morning ritual for the last 25+ years. But I also started reading spiritual page-of-the-day books with a couple of different "groups". The problem with that was I would sometimes forget my books when I traveled for work (I'm actually in flight right now back to Dave and the "kids" as we speak) and would just pick it up where I left off later in the day or when I was back home, etc. On the day of Lent, I took up the purposeful practice of doing these spiritual readings (and then texting my prayer partners) RIGHT after I got off my kneeler.  It has truly made my life better, and I likely won't quit doing this after Easter has come and gone.
I said all that to lead into this:  I made a purposeful decision (not a Lenten practice) to change my world in another way. Since I do travel so much for my work, I often see travelers in the airport that are just downright nasty to airport/airline employees. Do we honestly believe that someone wakes up in the morning saying, "I am going to do my level best to disappoint or annoy as many people as I possibly can today"? I think not. I think delays, malfunctions, miscommunication are all part of our world, but they seem to be particularly "prickly" when it comes to air travel.  We've likely all heard the story of the man who is yelling at the gate agent (who just announced that the departure time will be delayed by 30 minutes), "This is unacceptable. Do you know who I am???", only to have the gate agent call their supervisor to say, "We need some help at Gate D7. There is a gentleman who needs some help remember who he is."  
So, in response to watching things like that happen on a fairly routine basis, I challenged myself to enter any airport loaded with smiles and compliments and gratitude. Any worker I pass, I try to thank them for their service; as the gate agent scans my boarding pass, I tell them "thank you" for their hard work, and I wish them a blessed day.  You know how little time that takes? Now, for the kicker. The benefits that come from that are indescribable. The gate agent perks up and says, "I so needed that. Thank you". The TSA agent says thank you for stacking up bins while I am waiting for my luggage to go through the conveyor belt. The flight attendant who is stressed out, already, comes and kneels down by my seat to tell me how much she appreciated my compliment on what a great job she is doing (that literally happened about 15 minutes ago on this flight. 
So, if it doesn't take that much time (just a little bit), and yet it reaps such benefits for the giver and receiver, then why in the world don't we do it more often?? Too rushed? So is everyone. Too tired? So is everyone. Too frustrated? So is everyone. 
But if we each did one little thing, and it spread and spread and spread, wouldn't we all feel better?
PollyAnna view? Maybe, but I will take that as a win any day at any time.
I'll bet I don't get another jewel in my Heavenly crown for chatting with the flight attendant, but I can tell you that I get more back from giving than I ever get back from receiving.

Oh, good grief, now the flight attendant just brought an extra "oatmeal apple cinnamon breakfast blondie" back to me. Dear Lord, please tell me this is not a "sweet"! 

Happy Communicating!
​Shelly