I love sharing personal little stories about human begins doing nifty things to help us a species evolve into a more joyful, collective culture cognizant of our actions and our effects on both a small scale and large.
So, I’m bringing you the story of Jose, my favorite barista.
There’s this little Italian cafe I frequent about 3 times a week in my neighborhood. They have the best croissants and coffee around Tulum, I’d argue. But that’s not even the best thing about this place.
There’s this one barista, a little mayan guy named Jose whose always so smiley and kind. A small guy whose a true positive ray of light that can be felt behind his cotton mask.
Every time I go he is SO happy to see me, and immediately delivers some warm and fantastic greeting.
Today it was: “Good morning my best friend! Welcome home!”
It immediately put the biggest smile on my face and snapped me out of the funk I’ve been in lately. Welcome home? Wow dude. I mean, I could live here for sure if I wanted to eating croissants and coffee all day… I can imagine far worse things. But you’re actually the sweetest human being in Tulum.
So I leave there with a smile every time, feeling good that my presence is appreciated! I’m sure he shows up like this with others. Or at least the people who offer the opportunity to connect deeper than just placing their order and then going back into iPhone land.
And I wanted to write this because it’s small example of the power of human kindness. And the power of a smile. It’s truly a contagious ripple effect.
We have the chance to decide every day what we are going to offer to another person. Is it our frustration, or impatience, or instead our lightness, warmth, or maybe a compliment?
I still remember to this day, when I was a confused teenager dealing with a mess of internal emotions and some situation with I don’t remember the details of. What I do remember is I was sharing my struggle with someone and they paused and said, “You’re a good person, Christine.”
At that time I wasn’t so sure of that myself. I didn’t have that self-assurance yet. But they reflected something I couldn’t see in myself, and that compliment lifted me to a place of confidence.
I did have a good heart. I knew that. But the compliment offered me permission to honor the knowing that was fogged over by self-doubt at the time.
We’re a species that rely on one another. Some species, like seahorses, can thrive and reproduce by themselves. However as humans, we are social creatures and as we enter into a new paradigm of relating, we have to realize the importance of human connection.
Human connection starts in our small everyday actions. Genuinely connecting with the barista, the neighbor, the gas station attendent. It’s our duty right now to show up and see unity in the division.
We’re not meant to live in cages like we’ve been put in for the last year. When we isolate for too long, we go a little insane. It’s not how we’re meant to live. We’re here to uplift, connect, and thrive. We’re here to align with love and let it guide us through our decisions. Fear is a myth of the mind used to control and keep us small.
How do you control a society? Get people afraid, isolated, and angry. I digress.
There’s no greater gift than to make another person smile and feel good. In turn, they will likely return the favor to someone else. And so the ripple effect begins.
You’ll never know how one action or comment will affect another persons life. Maybe years later they’ll remind you of something you totally forgot you said that had a profound effect on them.
The word is the seed of all creation. We have the power to create or destroy with it. What are you choosing to do with your power today?
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