The other day, I was in the checkout line in my grocery store. The guy in front of me said "You look familiar." We ran through the gambit of possibilities, then he remembered: We were both at the Rockwood Bakery. I was sitting on the patio enjoying my coffee and the warm morning sunshine. He was standing in a small group of other adults and his toddler daughter. A passing dog stopped and started barking at some unseen treat. The barking frightened the little girl. The dad got down to her level and said, "That must have been scary for you." He comforted her by validating her fear.
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| Not actually them, just a cute picture |
I was impressed by his compassion toward his three-year-old. So much so that I complimented his on his parenting skills. He thanked me and went about his business. That was two years prior. I made enough of an impression on him that he recognized me in a grocery store two years after our 30 second encounter.
My take away: Be kind and free with compliments. You never know the impact you will have.
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