The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated (William James)

I learned of a special story yesterday from my wife and I’ll share it with you.

The story was shared during a Sunday Mass sermon. You don’t have to have religion to understand the impact.

Let me tell you a true story that just happened recently. It’s about a beauty salon owner who was surprised when one of his regular customers came in without an appointment to have her hair styled. She wasn't scheduled for a cut for another couple of weeks. He asked if she had some big plans that evening.
"Oh, No, not really" she said, "I don't have anything in particular going on. I just want to look especially good tonight."
So the hair stylist went to work. He gave the lady a nice long relaxing scalp massage, then shampooed and styled her hair. During their 30 minutes together the two talked and joked and laughed. When he had finished, the lady gave him a big smile, paid, and hugged him goodbye.
A few days later the salon owner received a note from the lady. She thanked him for the wonderful time she had had that afternoon. His kindness and the fun they shared had given her hope---enough hope to check herself into a hospital and seek professional help for her depression — you see, instead of taking her own life, which she had been planning to do that same evening.
"Thank you for being there," she wrote, "without knowing that you were." The shared experience certainly shocked the hairdresser. He had known the woman for three years, yet he had no inkling she was in such distress. What if he had been distracted, or had rushed through the appointment? How many of the ten clients he saw each day were in similar crisis without his even being aware of it? He would never know.
He vowed from that point on to give extra care and attention to everyone he saw and do his best to make his or her day. The experience not only changed the woman's life but the salon owner's perspective, as well.
I am thankful for today’s small mercies and miracles. I may not expect much but I get disappointed when anything is less than my best. Maybe I should really expect nothing and be satisfied with the result.
Go ahead, pay if forward, and make a positive difference in someone’s life today.

Copyright © 2007 by Myles Saulibio All Rights Reserved