Look A Stranger in the Eye (Pupil)
This post is about attitude and how it makes all the difference in the world. Specifically this is about the attitude we bring to our daily routines and is based on three different men I have come across during my daily commute and one whom I have never met. Each one made or makes the day just a tad bit better than it was - and they do it so simply.
One is a Montreal cop who I used to see regularly in the Griffintown area of the city. The second is a parking attendant at the Bell Centre. The third is a train conductor who used to work the line I ride to and from the city every day. The last is a singer in a band. They are all examples of how easy it is to build a short human connection with a stranger and make the world that much more united.
In every case they manage to, during a few seconds of interaction with fellow citizens, make a connection and put a smile on someone's face - well mine at least.
The cop's job, during the extremely busy construction season this past summer, was to direct traffic at intersections. He brought life to his job and a smile. As he let bus after bus through the intersection he'd make eye contact with the drivers, point at them, give then the thumbs up and a smile. The drivers would return with a friendly wave or short honk of the horn. He did not just sleeplessly guide vehicles around, he led drivers and pedestrians safely across the busy intersection and made a connection for a brief few seconds.
The parking attendant I am referring to directs cars in and out of the St-Antoine Street Bell Centre lot. With a long "woooooo, wooooooo" scream he gets our attention and directs cars to stop to let others in or out, stops traffic to let pedestrians cross the entrance and greets most of us with a "Bonsoir monsieur/madame. Merci!" lifting his Montreal Canadiens' ball cap off his head. Again a connection. Pedestrians, drivers all greet him as they walk and drive by.
The conductor also managed to make a positive connection in a few seconds by reminding us all to keep smiling when he called out the last station or greeted us at the first. He'd constantly walk the length of the train, saying hi and making eye contact with riders - smiling. Most of us said "Hi" and smiled back. Another easy connection made.
On the Live 2012 Coldplay concert video, Chris Martin makes a great point. He talks about how the band has matured, grown confident and how they are no longer apologetic for their sound or music. He states that they have outgrown the English upbringing they had which somehow reinforced this behaviour of apology and fear. He states that on the 2012 tour they had finally gained the confidence so that, while on stage, he now looks into the eyes of hundreds of people every night - directly in their eyes during the show - and states that for that moment, for that second, a connection is made between him and that specific spectator. Something magical happens. Indeed.... And it is felt by both.
It seems does seem to take a certain amount of self-confidence to say "hi" to a total stranger. We should all do it more often. Look at someone in the eye, directly into the black of their pupils, and say "Hi!".
Let me know what you think about what you have just read. Please and thanks!
One is a Montreal cop who I used to see regularly in the Griffintown area of the city. The second is a parking attendant at the Bell Centre. The third is a train conductor who used to work the line I ride to and from the city every day. The last is a singer in a band. They are all examples of how easy it is to build a short human connection with a stranger and make the world that much more united.
In every case they manage to, during a few seconds of interaction with fellow citizens, make a connection and put a smile on someone's face - well mine at least.
The cop's job, during the extremely busy construction season this past summer, was to direct traffic at intersections. He brought life to his job and a smile. As he let bus after bus through the intersection he'd make eye contact with the drivers, point at them, give then the thumbs up and a smile. The drivers would return with a friendly wave or short honk of the horn. He did not just sleeplessly guide vehicles around, he led drivers and pedestrians safely across the busy intersection and made a connection for a brief few seconds.
The parking attendant I am referring to directs cars in and out of the St-Antoine Street Bell Centre lot. With a long "woooooo, wooooooo" scream he gets our attention and directs cars to stop to let others in or out, stops traffic to let pedestrians cross the entrance and greets most of us with a "Bonsoir monsieur/madame. Merci!" lifting his Montreal Canadiens' ball cap off his head. Again a connection. Pedestrians, drivers all greet him as they walk and drive by.
The conductor also managed to make a positive connection in a few seconds by reminding us all to keep smiling when he called out the last station or greeted us at the first. He'd constantly walk the length of the train, saying hi and making eye contact with riders - smiling. Most of us said "Hi" and smiled back. Another easy connection made.
On the Live 2012 Coldplay concert video, Chris Martin makes a great point. He talks about how the band has matured, grown confident and how they are no longer apologetic for their sound or music. He states that they have outgrown the English upbringing they had which somehow reinforced this behaviour of apology and fear. He states that on the 2012 tour they had finally gained the confidence so that, while on stage, he now looks into the eyes of hundreds of people every night - directly in their eyes during the show - and states that for that moment, for that second, a connection is made between him and that specific spectator. Something magical happens. Indeed.... And it is felt by both.
It seems does seem to take a certain amount of self-confidence to say "hi" to a total stranger. We should all do it more often. Look at someone in the eye, directly into the black of their pupils, and say "Hi!".
Let me know what you think about what you have just read. Please and thanks!
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