Never Underestimate the Power of Kindness

Never ever ever underestimate the power of a smile and a kind word.

I'm standing on a checkout line at a store across the street here. The line was long … and slow. I'm kind of used to it. The woman at the register snippy … and slower. The guy in front of me didn't seem to mind and didn't seem to be in any particular hurry. He chatted amiably with me. And when he got up to the register, even chatted amiably with the woman at the register.

"How 'ya doing with all these people?" he asked.

Without even looking at him, she just shrugged, said something about dealing with it.

"Well, you deal with it very well," he said. "I thank you."

She looked up. And as she handed him a few bucks back in change, he grasped her hand.

"Keep it," he said.

I couldn't believe my ears. I don't think she could either. She cocked her head. Then this most forgettable looking elderly gentleman said something I'll never forget.

"The season's tough, but it shouldn't be. Have some fun."

And he walked away. Just like that.

I think me and the cashier were the only ones who heard him. She never said a word ... not one word. But when I came up on line, she did manage one thing -- a smile.

I wanted to rush and tell the old man about it. But something told me he already knew.

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