Magical Doorman of Building 222

Back when my kids were in preschool – we were always late for preschool – we used to walk (well, run) the same way every day.

One morning, I was more stressed than usual. My head was down, my brow furrowed. I’m sure it looked like I was pushing a Mack truck instead of a small child. I was just dreading the day ahead of me, when I heard, “Have a great day!”

I turned, looking for who that was for. Then I saw the doorman from building 222, and he was talking to me.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. Every day when we walked by, he’d call out to us, “Hello! Have a great day.” But when I saw that his “hello” was meant for me, something inside me softened. 

On the rest of the walk, I questioned myself. Why was I carrying this heavy weight around? What if I could have a great day? How can I make that happen? By the time we got to school, my energy had done a total 180.

That stress I was dragging around? It was so unnecessary, yet I hadn’t realized it until the doorman reached out to me.

The next morning, I had to say something. We stopped at building 222, and I said to him, “I want to thank you. You’re are always so kind, even though we don’t even live in your building. And yesterday, when I was so stressed, you lightened up my whole day. You’re so good at what you do, and I really appreciate it.”

He beamed. “Thank you,” he said.

The next day, we walked by again, and this time a different doorman was on duty. He was standing back in the lobby, but when he saw me, he ran out and said, “Good morning, ma’am! I hope you have a great day!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Either he was this friendly to everyone, or the regular doorman had told him what I’d said. He must have even described me – “She’s blonde, got two small kids, might look really flustered.”

I know it’s small, but that one gesture of a smile, a “have a nice day” can really turn someone’s state of being around.

As you go through today, I invite you to be that doorman for someone else, and lighten their whole day. Let them know you’re thinking about them, that you care. Or, if you’re running on empty, like I was that one morning, then let me say from my heart to yours: “Hello! I hope you have a great day!”

Go out this Thanksgiving and shine.