My Postman Is Lonely

I think my postman is lonely. This morning I had to sign for a parcel, and he knocked on my door, smiled at me and when he asked me to sign, started to make conversation. Apparently, I'm the only person in my block to get a parcel today! I was still wearing my pajamas, so I was feeling a little uncomfortable, but we chatted a little.

There are lots of people with jobs like his, where you meet lots of people but only briefly, and you're seen as a service and not a person. Receptionists, security guards, catering staff, the man who fixes the heating and the guy who refurbishes your computer. I think they are lonely too sometimes.

How nice it is to know you can make a difference to their day. Learning their names, taking a minute to chat, saying thank you. Think about the difference that makes to you when someone says thank you to you. You can give that feeling to someone else, ten times a day. Weirdly, knowing you have taken the time, knowing you have made a difference to someone, makes you feel good too. And, if that's not enough for you, when you know the receptionist's name and you help her out occasionally, your visitors get better treatment and that reflects well on you.