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Happy 4th of July
A TRUE STORY:
Once, on a flight in the USA, an older air hostess came around with the beverage cart and asked me in a rather rude tone:
“Anything to drink?”
I looked up at her and smiled really big. She looked in her 50s and tired. Maybe someone’s mom.
A TRUE STORY:
Once, on a flight in the USA, an older air hostess came around with the beverage cart and asked me in a rather rude tone:
“Anything to drink?”
I looked up at her and smiled really big. She looked in her 50s and tired. Maybe someone’s mom.
“Yes please, ma’am. Thank you so much for asking.”
I made sure to make eye contact and kept smiling. Immediately, I saw her brows raise in surprise.
She proceeded to pour my drink and curtly asked “ice?”
“Please - that’d be very kind of you. Thank you.” I responded.
I made sure to make eye contact and kept smiling. Immediately, I saw her brows raise in surprise.
She proceeded to pour my drink and curtly asked “ice?”
“Please - that’d be very kind of you. Thank you.” I responded.
She gave me the drink and I thanked her warmly again.
“Have an awesome flight ma’am.” I finished our exchange and she went on.
It was time for my prayer and so I proceeded to pray. I prayed for her as well - she was obviously agitated.
But then she came back.
“Have an awesome flight ma’am.” I finished our exchange and she went on.
It was time for my prayer and so I proceeded to pray. I prayed for her as well - she was obviously agitated.
But then she came back.
“Sir,” she said, warmly this time.
“I wanted to say - your parents raised you right. You’re so well mannered. I’m sorry for my tone.”
“Ma’am,” said. “I’m just Canadian.”
“I don’t know how else to talk.”
My little Canadian heart galloped with the strength of 100 moose.
“I wanted to say - your parents raised you right. You’re so well mannered. I’m sorry for my tone.”
“Ma’am,” said. “I’m just Canadian.”
“I don’t know how else to talk.”
My little Canadian heart galloped with the strength of 100 moose.
I realized in that moment that even the most fleeting interactions with people who may not matter, matter.
Like a German friend once said, “The kindness in a Canadian’s tone is the warmest in the world.”
So Happy 4th of July.
Be kind.
Even to strangers.
Like a German friend once said, “The kindness in a Canadian’s tone is the warmest in the world.”
So Happy 4th of July.
Be kind.
Even to strangers.
