The Air Around Us

Today we purchased a new-to-us car. It is the newest, and the nicest car we’ve ever bought, and adventures await us on the road for sure. But what struck me today wasn’t the new car, but a comment made by one of the employees. Once we had made the decision and were waiting for all the details to be finalized, I was outside leaning against a lamppost when the senior sales manager walked by. I shared with her what a great job the sales associate had done with us…treating us with respect, professionalism, and just plain human kindness. The things we want to occur in any and all interactions we have with anyone else on our shared planet.

This is where it got interesting.

She said, and I quote:

OK… this is kind of weird, she said.

At which point I interrupted her and said… I love weird.

At which point she said, When you and your husband walked up to our counter today, we noticed something about you. You were so warm and kind. As you can imagine, at a car dealership, people come with their pre-conceived notions about what they are going to find, and so we don’t usually get “warm and kind”. After you walked away from the desk, we all looked at each other, pointed to you, and said, “It’s going to be a good day.”

Here’s the thing. Every day we bring with us an aura of who we are, how we are, and the kind of souls we are, or aspire to be. We have an air about us that those around us inhale. Some days I for one do way better than others. Today it was warmth and kindness. Other days, probably not so much.

It seems that today we got it right and had an air about us that had the fragrance of warmth and kindness.

Every time we get in our new-to-us car, I hope to be reminded that whatever we exhale, the air that flows from who and how we are in that moment is going to be inhaled by those around us.

Photo by Darius Krause from Pexels

A Kind Word

It’s been a long week for almost everyone I know, and our hearts are in need of kindness, gentleness and grace. To that end, I share a small story to close out the week and enter into the weekend.

In 2015 I was on the hunt for a few new clothes, and had wandered into one of my favorite little boutiques. Armed with potential purchases, I stepped into the dressing room, and as I hung up the clothes I noticed the following words at the top of the mirror:

While I can’t speak for everyone, for many of us the dressing room can be a place of shame and criticism. The lights are too bright, the rooms too small, and a glance in the mirror often elicits harsh words at the image staring back at us.

Every dressing room mirror had those same words, and while I’ve never forgotten them, I often forget to practice them.

In the dressing room, out in the world, or behind the closed doors of our inner thoughts, we often reserve our most unkind words for ourselves.

Let’s not.