Yesterday I had a great conversation with a guy called Liam. He very sweetly came to my door in the cold and delivered my Sainsbury’s shopping. Well, he was paid to do the job of course, but he was not paid to do it ‘very sweetly.’ Nonetheless, he did. Good on you Liam.

He was not just the usual – courteous and kind – but more than that. He carried the shopping into the house, chatted to Esther and asked me all about our Christmas plans. I told him how we celebrate Christmas and he was genuinely interested and asked a lot of questions even to the point of asking which charities we have supported in the past.

I enjoyed our chat and savoured it in my mind for a good hour or so afterwards.

Whoever I meet I try to be like Liam. I try to be over-the-top nice. That might sounds a bit strange. But it is how I am. I want people to really feel well-treated when they are around me, whoever they are.

All of the cleaners at the schools I taught in worked extra hard in my room not because it was more dirty (although probably was untidy!) but because I knew the names of all of their children and their problems. I just have that kind of brain and that kind of interest in others. Maybe I am just kick off nosey?

It is possible to be in a position where you make someone else’s day brighter, even if you haven’t got anything that amazing to share. I love this little story for example…

“As the bus slowed down at the crowded bus stop, the Pakistani bus conductor leaned from the platform and called out, “Six only!” The bus stopped. He counted on six passengers, rang the bell, and then, as the bus moved off, called to those left behind: “So sorry, plenty of room in my heart – but the bus is full.” He left behind a row of smiling faces. It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it.”
The Friendship Book of Francis Gay, 1977

So how nice are you?
Are you like Liam? Or don’t you stop to give strangers the time of day? Think about it! You could actually leave behind a whole trail of smiles.