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This week's thank you: The person who says hi


I have a reminder that goes off each Monday at 8:30am. The reminder says, "Write a Thank You Note".

Each day, I get the pleasure of working in the same building as nearly 1,000 other people. It's easy to get caught up in the overflowing refrigerators (though there are four of them) or the salmon-like feeling when you attempt a bathroom run during the 3pm shift change. So many of the hundreds of people walk down the halls with their heads down, not making eye contact. When you come across someone who doesn't, someone who looks you in the eye and smiles, it can change your whole mood.

There are a number people here who make an effort to say hi, or at least smile. Like Justin, who if you asked him how he is, he will always respond, "Magnificent!" Or Melinda, who knows just about everyone who works here and loves catching up with people. Or Mike, who makes a point to know your name and will call you out if he catches you avoiding his gaze. And I've thanked them before, because their interest in the people around them makes this place just a little brighter.

This week, though, there was someone else I wanted to thank. Carol and I work in completely different departments that don't overlap at all, though we work in the same cubicle city. For many months, I didn't even know her name. But Carol and I are apparently a lot alike.

Carol and I go to the same church, and often the same service. After this service, Carol and I both wind up at Panera for breakfast. She with her husband, me with my son. At first, it was awkward. "I know you from work but I don't know your name and you probably have no clue who I am so I'm just going to concentrate really hard on not spilling this coffee as I walk past." Eventually we went to smiling at each other in recognition. And then saying hello at work. I tracked her down through the picture wall featuring all of our lovely HR name badge photos. She must have done something similar because she started calling me by name as well.

A few weeks ago, Carol came in to work wearing a fleece hat. My mom had a collection of those hats from her months of chemotherapy. Though Carol and I had never said more than, "Good morning" and "Hello" to each other, our common routine had created a strange kind of friendship that didn't really need more substance. I could tell she didn't want any undo attention, but I wanted to make sure she knew how much her smile and greetings made things a little nicer in this large company. And I had a feeling she could use a little pick-me-up. So this thank you note came with a Panera gift card.
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Rob Reynolds said…
Thank you for sharing this, Carrie, and for reminding all of us how important these connections are in our lives.
January 12, 2016 at 6:48 AM
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