After church today, I did something I often enjoy I drove north. It’s become a kind of a ritual for me, a quiet joy ride, time to think, decompress, and let the day's reflections settle in.
Just before reaching Wallingford, I pulled into an Exxon station to get gas. A white large Mercedes-Benz pulled up beside me, and its driver stepped out and walked into the store. As I waited, I glanced around and noticed a black-and-white photograph hanging in the window. Something about it caught my eye.
When the man came back out, I complimented him on the picture. “It’s great to have a photo of a loved one,” I said. He smiled and explained that it was his wife’s high school class picture, taken back in 1980. “Almost half a century ago,” I commented, and he laughed.
What followed was one of those unexpected, refreshing conversations that can brighten your day. I learned that he works in the nursing home business and has a genuine passion for caring for the elderly. His dream is to one day own a nursing home himself. I shared that I also work in healthcare, at Yale at the moment and we talked about how rewarding, yet emotionally exhausting, it can be to care for others.
That short exchange reminded me of something I try to live by: Talk to strangers.
Find something kind, something human, something shared, and talk about it. You would be surprised where those small openings can lead. It doesn’t have to be deep or profound; sometimes just acknowledging the presence and worth of another person is enough.
At the end of the day, we all long to be seen for more than our flaws and shortcomings. We want to be recognized for the stories we carry, the good we try to do, and the love we give.
So, wherever your day takes you, whether it’s a church pew, a joy ride, or a gas station in a small town don’t miss the chance to connect.
We shook hands and went our separate ways and the man looked genuinely happy and so was I. All because of this simple connection.
God bless and have a wonderful day.
-Pal Ronnie-
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