Thursday, November 22, 2024

"Wow you look really happy” Startled, kindly woman with a beautiful smile and the warmest, dark eyes. She graciously clutches her chest, “that's the kindest thing!” She tells me that is the same way she feels about me. I tell her about her eyes and smile and ask about what brings her Joy. Like many others I speak with, this changes her demeanor. She softened and shared. Before she left she asked for a hug. It was a genuine, warm embrace the one you save for a favorite aunt or uncle…A special connection
We are never alone on this journey of life


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The Beginning

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After 30 years of teaching elementary students, I was ready for another purpose.  Maybe I could reach out to people and make their day a little easier.  Maybe a gentle greeting with a genuine interest in a person's life could help build a connection.  Maybe I could acknowledge the good, to give people a respite from social media and device addiction.   In September, I started a job as a cashier at a nearby grocery store in Westchester.  I picked this place because of its positive vibe and its access to many communities off the highway including Greenwich,  the Bronx and New York City.  This would put me in the ideal situation where people from all different walks of life are on a level playing field; getting groceries.   Since this venture was not about the money; starting at minimum wage and not about status or recognition, I decided to not share that I was a college graduate with graduate degrees.  At this point in my life, recogn...
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Friday, November 15, 2024

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John a well fit gentleman in his 30’s commenting on me being lean.  “You must watch what you eat.”  I do more than that, I tell him.   We discuss our bodies as energy and therefore require a lifestyle that is light not dense.  We agree that to stay light goes beyond the physical; we also need to surround ourselves with people that don’t bring us down; kind, compassionate people.  He tells me as an accountant, his colleagues sit all day from January till April and their stomachs grow.  He is trying to stay away from that lifestyle. Makes me think of a man staying above mediocrity, wanting to do better, wanting to be a better person.  He left our conversation with his hand over his heart and wishing that we meet again.
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Sunday, December 29, 2024

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MaryKate a middle aged woman is radiant with smiles as she patiently waits in line. “I just dropped my daughter off at the airport. I had such a wonderful time with my kids over the holidays. It is so hard for me to say goodbye, but I am so happy that they are happy in their lives.” As I start checking her items she tells me, “I have no idea why I am shopping or even here, especially because this store is in the opposite direction of where I am going.” MaryKate goes on to tell me her husband is suffering early dementia at 60 and he is unable to come out with her so she needed to hire a helper. “We never were happy together. He suffered depression and he could never keep a job but I took him back.” She goes on to tell me she is a lawyer, a public defender who finds gratitude in supporting people who don’t always have the resources. What a wonderful soul who seems to be able to give even when life throws her challenges. I admire her smile and her willingness to share such vulner...
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Sunday, December 1, 2024

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“I remember you.” A bigger gentleman in his 50’s with a strong demeanor and physical strength reminds me of our past encounter. I tell him I remember him with his son. He smiles and you feel his pride, his warmth. “Yes, whenever I get the opportunity to be with him regardless of what we are doing I take it. He needed food, so grocery shopping it was. I used to be a police officer and now I am semi-retired. I help my friend who is a plumber and I have owned a restaurant and a landscaping business.” We talk about how short life is and the importance of being with our kids. He kind of beamed when talking about his son almost in a jolly way.  "You know none of this is really about us.  When we realize that then nothing becomes personal." He left, shaking my hand and formally introducing himself. A good person who seems to have his priorities in order. Beauty all around us
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Friday, November 15, 2024

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Michelle works for Instacart shopping for other people.  She clearly takes pride in her dress and her make-up.  I commented on her glow.  She, like many others, seems surprised that someone would be interested in their life.  Her demeanor quickly softens as she tells me she surrounds herself with good people but her favorite is her best friend of 40 years who she can tell anything to.  “I can be real with her.  No fluff.  I don’t have to worry about a show with her…I can be myself.” As she walks away it seems to me that now she has a little spring in her step.  Good for people to know that they are not alone.  Another person I hope to cross paths with. There are times when Life seems dark, But the Light is Always there
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Tuesday, March 13, 2025

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Marie, with long straight blond hair and blue eyes looks tired with wrinkles that are ingrained in her skin like dried out river beds in a desert. But her light, her intensity, changes when she talks. “Do you know I still live in the same house in New Rochelle that I was born in. I have had neighbors come and go but I am still there. The high school looks the same but it definitely has changed.” She tells me more about her community and then switches her focus and a warmth comes over her. “I remember the place that made me feel most comfort, was the church across the street. I still remember at age thirteen going to the church alone and feeling such a sense of peace, away from all of the outside noise. There was such a sense of stillness there. Now He, (she gestures to the sky) is always with me.” Through our conversation, Marie makes several gestures with her hands to show a kind of path to the Lord being up and down and the physical life being a horizontal plane. There is a real...
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Tuesday, January 28, 2025

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A young gentleman in a starched shirt and a tie with a cropped haircut was quick to tell me his predicament. “I am not sure how I am going to get through this. I just got divorced. Actually three days ago.” He didn’t tell me specifics but I don’t believe it was in his nature to tell people about his problems. “I am not sure why I told you that.” Sad for the pain people are holding. What crushed me was him thinking he had to carry this burden on his own. I had nothing to lose so I told him that when I felt I was in a crisis mood, I find a mantra, that I repeat incessantly so I don’t have to listen to the chatter in my head. I suggested he repeat “I am strong…I am strong…I am strong.” as many times as he needed. He thanked me. I told him I am here if he ever needed to talk. Life can be tough, and it is terrible to think you have to take this journey alone. Staying grounded.  It may take nature.  It may take God. It may take a kind word from a stranger. .
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Tuesday, November 26, 2024

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A man well over 6 feet and a somewhat muscular body with a hat spelling TRUMP rolled up to my line in a motorized wheelchair. He shared with me what a wonderful day it is. “It is just spectacular. Every day is that way. I wake up so happy to be alive.” As he was leaving he told me 6 months ago the doctors gave him 5 months to live. Tuesday, November 26, 2024-A woman in her 50’s with a somber air, serious expression and a cutting voice rushed to begin bagging as I scanned her food. From her energy I respect her space. “You know I had a death in the family yesterday.” As she talks you can feel the weight of her shoulders drop. Oh how my heart crumbled for her. How I admire her strength, humility and acceptance at that moment. As she leaves, all I could summon was that I would be thinking of her. Nature can teach us about the fleeting of moments...this too shall pass
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A response from...An Idea... published December 6th

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Today my general manager called me into his office. He let me know he received my proposal and has been thinking a lot about it and the logistics to implement it. The store prides itself on being one of the best 100 places to work for  the last 27 consecutive years and a place where shoppers can expect warm exchanges with employees.  With well over 100 people working at any given shift, the general manager's desire to take time from what he was doing and reflect on a topic of kindness and compassion is a win. Good for him and good for us as a humanity that there are people out there who are making the decisions and still recognizing the importance of the person beyond the money. Maybe all we can do is to put an idea out to the Universe and have It decide the path to be taken. Note: On January 20th, 2025 I received a written note from the Senior Vice President of HR thanking me for the idea of a gratitude line. He stated that the senior team had discussed an idea similar to ...
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Friday, November 15, 2024

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Two men approach.  One goes right to the bags as the other starts loading the food on the conveyor.  This man has smiling eyes, wide rimmed glasses- a bit smeared and a chunky build. I ask him who taught him to be happy.  He said his life was not always kind.  He had suffered three strokes and he is happy to have survived and grateful everyday to be alive.  I question him if these events that happened years ago can still motivate him to have a good attitude.   “Well, I read.  I read about scripture.  I really think you would like it.”  We talk a little more as his friend said “I thought saying hello was a little strange but I am glad that we stayed to chat." Kind, good souls who seemed sluggish until they lit with a seed of light.  Hopefully that will germinate… This event reminded me of Tony, a sound engineer who uses vibrations and music to help patients in hospitals. He invited me to one of his workshops.  The virtual meeting inc...
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