Because THEY don't happen often...
Those words...
That phrase...
It keeps ringing in my ears and whirling in my mind.
I heard it a little over 12 hours ago.
I can’t seem to shake it.
I don’t know if I want to shake it.
I DO WANT TO CHANGE IT...
That’s why I’m writing this post.
WE CAN DO BETTER!
WE MUST DO BETTER!
“Because THEY don’t happen often...”
Those were the last words I heard deplaning yesterday's flight from Houston to Atlanta.
It’s what Delta Air Lines Flight Attendant Kelly said to me.
WHAT doesn’t happen more often?
It’s really kind of sad.
It’s an indictment about US...
...our lack of empathy.
...our lack of connection.
...our lack of compassion.
...our lack of humanity.
I hesitate to write about it.
I’ve been in a debate with myself for a few minutes now.
Then, I remembered words spoken by my friend, Jason Meucci some months ago.
He called what I’m doing a crusade.
I hadn't thought of it that way. Not at the time he said it...and not much after either.
Until now.
Now, is when I need to hear those words...
...to write this post.
If you think this is MY story, you are sadly mistaken.
I’m a messenger. A flawed one at that.
It was almost two years ago when I was in a conversation with Suzie Consoli and she was prodding and prompting me to come up with something to present to a potential client.
What resulted was the I’M GRATEFUL FOR YOU MOVEMENT.
Yesterday, I was in Houston to share the message and spread the IGFY movement with Dr. Gina Anderson and the amazing team and clients of Luma Brighter Learning.
As I boarded Delta flight 2694, I slipped the Flight Attendant an I’M GRATEFUL FOR YOU card and a bag of chocolates as a gratitude gift.
She thanked me.
An hour or so later, I made my way towards the lavatory at the front of the plane.
It was occupied, so I had to step into the galley to wait.
As I did, guess what I saw?
Posted there was the envelope with the note tucked inside.
“Is it okay if I take a picture?” I asked the flight attendant standing there.
“Sure, but why?”
“It’s for a research project.”
He looked a little confused.
I said, “It’s about the gratitude card and the impact it has.”
“Oh, you’re the guy! I ate four of the chocolates already."
We shared a laugh and that was that...
Or so I thought.
As I was exiting the plane after landing in Atlanta, I looked up in the galley to see if the card was still there.
It was...but now it was out of the envelope and the note was visible.
Now, another flight attendant, the one I handed the card to was standing there thanking passengers as they deplaned.
“Oh, may I take a picture of the card?”
“Sure.”
As I did, she thanked me and said how it made her day.
So, I pressed my luck and asked, “May I take a picture of you with the card since it meant that much to you?”
“I don’t really like pictures.”
"Me either, what’s your name?”
“Oh, I’m Kelly.”
I snapped the photo and was about to deplane.
“Wait, can I take a picture too?" Kelly asked.
“I want to remember this day...
BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAPPEN OFTEN.”
As I type those words now, tears well up.
Days when YOU FEEL seen, heard, valued, and appreciated as a human...don't happen often!!! ‼️😱
Friends, WE CAN CHANGE THAT.
WE CAN MAKE TIME TO SEE PEOPLE...
And let them know we SEE THEM.
When you take a moment and express your gratitude to another human being...YOU ARE TELLING THEM:
I SEE YOU!!!
I VALUE YOU!!!
WHAT YOU DO MATTERS!!!
You don’t have to use an IGFY card to do that. You can put it on a sticky note, an index card, or a blank sheet of paper.
It’s the message that matters...not the medium.
Unless, of course, you remember as I did the moment I typed this line, the immortal words of Marshall McLuhan, “the medium IS the message!”
Imagine a world...
where SEEING people,
CONNECTING with people, and
COMMUNICATING our gratitude to them and for them is the new normal.
Let’s make moments like this HAPPEN MORE OFTEN! ARE YOU IN?
IF YOU’VE READ ALL OF THIS... I HOPE YOU KNOW... I’M GRATEFUL FOR YOU.
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