It's true. As weird as it may seem I appear to be a random conversation magnet. No matter where I am - a plane, the mall, just walking about – at least once a week or so a complete stranger will strike up an unprovoked conversation revealing to me their most personal information and thoughts that typically lasts about 25 minutes or longer!
Some of my past encounters include:
- At the mall – a girl pulled me aside to ask me my opinion on a laundry basket and she began talking about the décor in her house, her favourite TV shows, her family and what she was having for dinner. She only stopped at the announcement that the store was closing in 10 minutes!
- On a plane - speaking to a lady who owns a manufacturing plant in Montreal that supplies La Senza and Victoria’s Secret who later introduced me to her family and friends as "my Holly" and invited me to visit her warehouse and pick some things to take home
- In an elevator – a man told me about how his wife just woke up one morning and said she was leaving with the kids and they had been married for 6 years….and on and on...hey, they are not all positive!
Maybe I’m just a sucker for ‘trying’ to be nice. In describing myself I would say I strive to be a people pleasing perfectionist – it’s just something that makes me feel good. I always make an effort to achieve eye contact, give a pleasant greeting and smile. I also try and listen to my best ability - if someone is talking they want to be heard. I do believe being ‘nice’ can get you far in life (personal and business) through the beneficial relationships you build and networking you conduct but you also get the immediate satisfaction of making someone's day just a little bit brighter even with a simple gesture.
You often only have a few seconds to leave an impression through your words, behaviour or actions. Being 'nice' doesn't take much effort and builds a tremendous and incredible sense of trust and integrity. It's a feel good action all around. I would like to try and do this more in the new year and have it at the top of my list as something to continuously work on.
If you have not yet experienced the benefits of being nice - or tried your best at it - now is the time to put it to the test.
Tis the season for random acts of kindness. Let's all be nice.
2 comments:
well holly i have witnessed this skill of yours to draw in people. and i know you tryuly are nice...one of the nicest people i know...so how'd you end up friends with me?! hahah...im the one who averts my eyes, and looks waaay to busy to for anyone to dare approach me. haha...im nice on the inside though ;)
I think you are lovely, and people just gravitate to loveliness. I have to say you do always look genuinely interested in everything people are saying and are always very sweet about it. It is a gift that more of us need to learn.
ps - as a comment to little h above...you can be pretty sweet yourself.
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