A simple way to brighten the day for a volunteer or service worker: Say "Thanks."
Volunteers are everywhere, many in churches, food banks, hospitals, libraries, and schools. Too often, they are "unsung heroes." (They may receive thanks only at the annual awards dinner.)
The wonderful thing I've found is that expressing my appreciation to a helpful volunteer or a retail clerk not only brightens their day. It brightens mine. Even for someone doing a routine task like bagging your groceries, it's appropriate to say "Thanks for your help."
A few days ago I noticed a new library volunteer arranging books alphabetically by patrons' names on the "hold" shelf. I said "Good morning, madam. I haven't seen you before, and I want you to know I really appreciate your volunteering to sort these books and make it easy for us patrons to find them."
She beamed brightly and smiled, saying "Why, thank you, sir." I, too, brightened up.
"What goes around, comes around." Cause and effect. So, be generous with your gratitude. These "little things" really make conversations matter.
Note:A touching true memoir:"A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life," by John Kralik (2011) [Paperback]
Until next week, Loren