‘I Appreciate It’ vs. ‘I Appreciate You’- Atlanta, GA

I sat down at the Beirgarten in downtown Atlanta, Georgia after settling my mind over hotel booking misfortunes. I ordered off the German themed menu, a ‘Salat’, Rueben Rolls, and nice liter of Spatan Lager.. Yes, I said liter. I learned that if you don’t distinctly tell them you want the .5L, they automatically serve you a swimming pool of alcohol that will make you think life over quickly when you embrace that the only way to consume it is to lift the mug with both hands to prevent spillage. As I attempted to do so I hear a giggle across the bar counter caddy corner proceeding a man’s voice, “That’s a whole lot of beer for a little lady.” With laughter, I replied, “Sir, you’re telling me, I was definitely NOT prepared!”

We allowed the hilarity of my not so bright ordering choices to lead us into conversation. We discovered we were both in town for work. He is a Pediatric Heart surgeon who was in from North Carolina speaking at a conference. In comparison, I felt silly telling him what I was doing there but I shared anyway and it brought up his questions of curiosity. For an hour and a half we picked each other’s brains about our different worlds. He shared his experiences of what it’s like to save and lose lives of children and I shared my stories of creativity and performing.

In retrospect we had little in common but our curiosity and love of travel is what kept us intrigued. He was an older man, mid 50’s. He shared how his travels kept him and his two now adult daughters separate at times but they always find time to spend together, whether it be phone calls or video chatting. He shared his love for travel, and how he tends to live in states for an average of 5 years working in hospitals and then chooses to relocate. I shared with him how this was my first event I would be working and that I absolutely love the city due to the kind people I came across on my adventure to the restaurant.

The man stated, “I do love the people here. I also love the people in Kansas.” “Kansas? Really?” I replied. “Oh yes,” he said with a gentle smile. “They taught me how to express my appreciation for people. You know how we somehow have an automatic response when someone does something nice for us, we say, ‘I appreciate it’ ? Well, they caught me off guard for the first few weeks of being there because every time I would do something like hold open a door, or help someone out with something as simple as seeing someone struggling to carry a box into their house, they would each take their time to shake my hand, look me in the eyes and say ‘I appreciate you.’ My jaded and selfish perspective made me question to myself, ‘You appreciate me? You don’t even know me.’ Until one day I came across my neighbor, an elderly man who needed help getting up his porch steps. I went and helped him and he turned to me and of course said, ‘I appreciate you.’ And I asked him, ‘Sir, why does everyone say that here? You all say ‘I appreciate you’, where I’m from we say ‘I appreciate it.’ The old man looked at me and smiled and said, ‘The kind act couldn’t have been done without the person. And we ought to share our appreciation for the person if the only guarantee is they will not live forever. So, yes, I may not know you, but you here at the very moment of need, so it is my pleasure to let you know that you are in fact appreciated.”

As he ended his sentence my heart strings were tugged in understanding how important it is to tell one another that we are indeed appreciated, that no matter how big or small the role, we matter.

I smiled at him and said, “Thank you for sharing that. I should’ve asked a while ago, but what is your name?” He chuckled, “It’s okay. My name is Jake. What’s yours?” “My name is Tasheena, Tasheena Medina.” He smiled, “Lovely name. Thank you for your company and conversation. I have to turn in. My age is starting to remind me to rest.” “Oh, no thank you, it was wonderful meeting you.” Jake paid his tab, got up and gathered his bag and jacket. I asked for my check and the server kindly decided to charge me for the .5L since I was obviously not up for the challenge. I looked over as Jake started to walk away from the bar counter and and turned back towards me and said, “Safe travels and best wishes with all you are doing.. I appreciate you.”

As I embark upon my journey for all things dance related, and continue to share my experiences there’s nothing more I could ask for than just the simple act of support. I have had the idea for a while to create a blog, something that not only involved my love for dance and travel, but most definitely expressed a deeper meaning of what it is to be human no matter our chosen paths. As this path entangles, weaves an unwinds I’d like to start by saying thank you… I appreciate you.

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