Killing It In My Sixties

I am sitting in Starbucks this morning having just finished a better-than-expected bacon, Gouda and egg breakfast sandwich. My cleaning lady is at my house, so I left to come somewhere I could write my blog. My toasty Venti latte is hitting the spot I hoped it would and it’s rather lovely to have the luxury to people watch and observe the early morning coming and goings of people just starting their day. I used to slug my second cup of coffee at work – taking sips between greeting students, teachers and others as they walked in the front door.

The activity here in this particular Starbucks is brisk, highly-organized and productive. What really stands out about it though, is one of the employees. She is very tall, and doesn’t seem to ever stop moving – but what really strikes me is how incredibly friendly she is! Literally every single person who walks through the door, drives up to the pick-up window, or stops in to grab a mobile order; is greeted with a loud, clear, “Good Morning! Welcome in! How are you today?” She has a huge smile on her face and tends to add a Forest-Gump-wave to each and every person.

What a difference this woman is making in the lives of countless individuals every morning! As I sit here, I smile every time I hear her speak – she is pure golden sunshine! I feel like I want to come here every morning, just so I can start my day off on a positive note. It’s obvious – her customers LOVE her, her co-workers LOVE her – and now – I LOVE her and I don’t even know her name. Just as I am thinking this lady must be the happiest person on Earth – I hear her tell a customer that she is “a little off her game because she hasn’t been feeling great”! How can that possibly be?!

I am sitting here contemplating tracking down the manger to tell him that his establishment is PURE GOLD, thanks in large part to this lovely positive soul. Or should I go tell her? Should I tell her to never stop being the wonderful person that she is – that she is an unwrapped gift to this planet right here in my home town? The world needs more of this kind of energy – optimism, love, and joy. What a beautiful place it would be if even 10% of the people had this quality – or that every workplace employed this embodiment of true humanity.

When I was working, I aimed to bring positive energy, love and acceptance to the students at my school. Now as a retired person still substitute teaching- I hope to brighten the experience of a mundane school day for each and every student I encounter. What does it take to be that person? I wanted to ask this brilliant soul what made her tick – what motivated her to be such a bright light in an often dark world?

Was it from overcoming adversity? Was it because she had led a charmed life? Was it because she hadn’t always been treated nicely and decided to make a difference in her sphere of influence? Or did she have some magic elixir pumping through her blood that produced that daily spark? I may never know – but before I leave this coffee spot – I am going to tell her what a joy she is.

They say we encounter people in life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Today she was the reason I needed to remember to appreciate my life.