Why You Should Become Friends With Your Salmon Guy
The Importance of Kindness and Connection
On my way home from work a couple of days a week, I stop by Whole Foods to pick up fresh salmon to cook for dinner. More often than not, it is the same guy working behind the counter.
His name tag reads “Garcia.”
Each time, I find him behind the counter, wearing the same hat and a hairnet covering his bushy beard, paired with a white coat and apron.
Being a regular at this store, I decided to befriend Garcia.
When I walk up to the counter, we engage in friendly small talk, often starting with how both of our days are going, then shifts to him sharing with me his take on the fresh catches that day (“fresh” being a stretch given we are in NYC). He often tells me about the many plants he has at his home that he takes immense pride in caring for.
Now whenever I walk into the store and we make eye contact, a smile washes over his face, which immediately brings one to mine.
Just the other day, he went to the back as I walked in and returned soon after with a small plant, a gift he had brought for me as a surprise. An act of pure kindness and thoughtfulness.
It warmed my heart and truly made my day. More so, it was a validating reminder of the major impact that these small interactions can have on us. And more importantly, the impact they can have on others.
It has become clear how much he looks forward to our interactions, although often brief and light, which leads me to believe that despite the many people he serves throughout the day, very few take the time out to truly talk to him, beyond giving their fish orders.
Everyone is constantly functioning on auto-pilot, forgetting that the people they interact with in these routine encounters are human beings.
I truly believe that the small interactions throughout our day can bring so much joy to our lives.
We assume that feelings of love and connection can only come from our close relationships; those we consider friends or family.
But what if we shift our perspective? What if we zoomed out and opened our eyes to the fact that the opportunity for connection is all around us, no matter where we are, or who we are surrounded by?
- Cashiers
- Baristas
- Construction workers we pass on the street
- Doormen
- Strangers standing next to us on the subway
- Taxi drivers
- That coworker we always make eye contact with but never speak to
They all have a story to tell, just as we do.
They all crave love and connection, just as we do.
We can choose to close ourselves off and stay in our bubble of familiarity; avoiding strangers, continuing to bury our deep underlying feelings of loneliness and isolation we feel, ignoring our craving for deeper connections.
OR…we can actively choose to connect with the many individuals we encounter on a daily basis; adding color, spontaneity and warmth to previously mundane moments, generating more love and connection within and spreading it to others.
Sadly, the simplicity of conversing with strangers has continued to fade in our society. The further encapsulated we become by technology, the less we pay attention to others, and naturally the more lonely we all feel.
Taking thirty seconds out of our day to ask how a stranger is doing, even if to simply say “good morning,” reminds us that we are all connected. It reminds us that everyone around us is living a shared human experience, and that we have the power and ability to show someone love to make their day a little bit better.
So, perhaps the lack of connection we may be feeling is not due to a shortage of friends. Maybe the answer isn’t to fill your social calendar to the brim, until reaching a point of burnout.
Perhaps, instead, we should try to spread love to the people around us in small ways. We can take brief moments out of our day to connect with people. We can show everyone more kindness and consideration, the things we are seeking more of ourselves.
And as these moments compound, they will not only light up your world, but also theirs.
The compassion we spread throughout these minor encounters compound, raise our frequency, and slowly start to fill the void we feel within.
The connection that we all crave lies within these small, yet meaningful, interactions.
So, who is your Garcia?
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