The Little Things

Lunching today down the street from where I work, I stopped and picked up lunch. I got my order to go and, when I left, stopped to let in three women with various roll-behind suitcases (?) struggling up the steps. One of the ladies, every bit as old (er, young!) as me or thereabouts, was chatting away to one of her companions. I stopped and held the door a good four or five seconds while I waited for them to reach the door. Not one of them made eye contact with me. Not one of them acknowledged me. Not one of them said thank you. So in a voice they could easily hear, and with none of the sarcasm I felt like oozing onto them, and with all the friendliness I didn't feel, I said, "Oh, you're welcome!!" as if they'd said thank you anyway. No eye contact. No acknowledgement. No thank you. 

Contrarily, yesterday I visited a small shop on the Plaza here in Kansas City, called Bird Sings. (They're around the corner from O'Dowd's, where Bang & Olufsen used to be—still has the B&O name on the door handles.) Not only is it a great little store that supports local artists and businesses, the place has amazing good juju! Thanks to Tim Colley, my coworkers and I who were out for a holiday lunch had a pleasant conversation and an overall wonderful experience. He did not speak AT us (like so many retail people do) but WITH us, individually, and as a group. I recommend visiting the shop, and stocking up on really cool gifts, and definitely stuff for yourself. (My husband—who was not with us; he's such a good sport!—bought me a gift while I was there yesterday. It's a 12x12 gallery-wrapped canvas print, pictured above.) If you're a fellow retailer, take notes on how he treats his customers (I'm talking to YOU, Vinca!). 

Oh, and Tim, if you're reading this, I'll be back in soon! If you're not Tim, go say hello to Tim.

Thanks for reading!
Cami

p.s. Your good juju today: Say thank you when someone holds the door for you. Really.

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