A certain 20-something I know nearly lost her mind in Trader Joe’s on Monday.
Since finishing college a few years ago, she’s worked hard to support herself while exploring career options. Recently, she chose a path and applied to grad schools.
As she stood in the checkout line at Trader Joe’s, her top school called her cell to let her know she got in! All her hard work and patience had finally paid off. She was thrilled…so much so that she started to walk out the door with her basket of groceries – without paying.
When a store employee called her back, she sheepishly explained. The grad school call distracted her, but she fully intended to pay for the groceries.
Much to her surprise, instead of scolding her, the store employee told her to wait right there. When she came back a couple minutes later, she held out a lovely bouquet of flowers!
“I forgot to ask you what your favorite color was,” she said, “so I just picked purple.”
The 20-something hardly knew what to say. The grad school acceptance call was incredible on its own, and now a perfect stranger wanted to share in her joy. Just because. A small gesture, with a huge impact. She was really touched.
Share your joy. It makes it ten times better.
(And a shout out to Trader Joe’s for creating a culture where employees can be so generous with their customers!)
If joy is in short supply in your life right now, create your own.
As featured in this week’s Impact Heroes, a group of 10- and 11-year-old Scottish boys are defying expectations and going viral this holiday season for all the right reasons.
Homeowner Erin Chalmers was worried when she saw the Ring doorbell camera footage of five young guys approaching her front door when she wasn’t home, thinking they might be up to no good. But then out of nowhere, they started belting out Wham’s “Last Christmas” and her heart melted.
Turns out they just wanted to help get people – even strangers – into the “Christmas spirit” before ending with a sweet “Bye! Love you!” and riding off on their bikes.
Now that’s a holiday miracle.
If five preteen boys can figure out how to make their own joy by cruising the neighborhood on their bikes and ringing doorbells, so can you!
Christmas is just three weeks away. Your to-do list is long. Invitations are stacking up. You’re feeling the pressure to do everything for everyone. To make the season perfect.
But what if you commit to making this holiday season joyful instead?
You’ll still buy and wrap gifts. Send out cards. Decorate cookies and cook all the things. Go to kids’ concerts and work parties. Avoid talking politics when your family gets together.
But let’s do the busy a little differently this year.
Be intentional about how you spend your time – scheduled or not – and how you connect with friends and strangers alike while you’re doing it. Wish the barista happy holidays. Ask the person next to you on the train what’s their favorite thing to do this time of year. Crank up the holiday music for caroling car pool.
Put a festive bandana on your dog and offer dog treats to other pet owners as you’re walking the park trail. Bring an extra coffee to work and give it to custodial staff. Give much-needed encouragement to your friend whose holiday is hard this year because they recently lost a parent or got divorced.
Recognize little moments of simple joy when they happen…or create them yourself! Those small nudges toward joy as we connect with others around us are what the holidays are all about.
And about the people who are pushing all your buttons, remember we’re all running the same holiday race. See where their heart is and give them benefit of the doubt.
If you’re open to it, you just might discover joy in the most unexpected places.
Please share this post with someone who needs to hear it today:
YOU MATTER. The way you connect with others makes a real difference in our world!
