Today’s phrase for the day is: Kindness Matters.
Recently, I attended a workshop in Los Angeles and one evening we had a networking event. I must admit – sometimes I feel like networking is a job. Engaging in conversations is all about finding the right timing to jump in, almost like jumping rope. You stand to the side listening to the conversation, go back and forth bobbing your head and smiling, waiting for the exact moment when you can hop in and join the conversation. It’s exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.
The unspoken awkwardness of not knowing which people want to engage you in conversation is palpable. Social situations can feel daunting when you don’t know anyone in the room. I felt that self-consciousness while I meandered around the room. After about 45 minutes of jumping in and out of conversations with varying levels of success, one of my friends walked into the room relieving my angst immediately. She knew more people than I did, and as such she introduced me as we bounced in and out of clusters of people.
I finally settled into a rhythm of working the room when I noticed a young lady enter. She looked like how I felt when I first arrived at the event. She stood at the entrance canvasing the place hoping for a familiar face. I understood that look all too well. I flashbacked to how I felt just moments before my friend arrived and made a snap decision to be that friendly face. I approached her with a smile, introduced myself, and welcomed her into my circle of new acquaintances. She eventually found her rhythm and I didn’t see her again until the end of the event.
As I walked to the exit, she beckoned me to a corner. We exchanged information and I grabbed my purse to leave when she tapped my arm and said, “I just wanted to thank you for your kindness yesterday evening. I felt really uncomfortable when I arrived at the event and you were the first person to make me feel welcomed. Thank you.”
Your words and actions truly make a difference in the lives of others. Even something as simple as a smile can make a person feel a little less alone in this world.
“Be the difference you want to see in the world, today.”