We all know these people. We have all had encounters with them – the non-hi, non-smiling, I guess I am too busy or too good or too something to acknowledge you. These are everyday people, at the grocery store, in your neighborhood, in lines at the post office and a restaurant, or at the car pool lane at school. We don’t meet, we don’t know them, but for a brief second, that person is where you are. When I see my fellow everyday person, my impulse is to smile and when appropriate, say hello. I’ve been taught, that is doesn’t hurt to smile, to say hello, or to reciprocate another’s gesture. I am always baffled when another person doesn’t smile back or doesn’t say hello, when you know they heard you and certainly saw you.
There are occasions in life when you have a rare chance to meet someone who is not an everyday person, but happens to be doing an everyday task. This past week I met Kurt Warner, the former quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals, Superbowl winner, and a future NFL Hall of Famer. He is not an everyday person. He was doing an everyday thing, like me, each one of us taking the kid to Peter Piper Pizza. I decided to talk to him, thinking in my mind, he could choose not to smile or talk to me. He could just dismiss me. To him, I am just another pesky fan. But he didn’t brush me off. I talked with him, complimenting his grace on and off the football field, he said thank you very much, and he ended our conversation with a smile.
I thought about the word humility after our brief, but pleasant exchange. Whatever you do the virtue of humility will elevate you to greater success. I think, myself included, we get so caught up on our individual accomplishments, we forget that there are other people who have achieved the same or greater success in their respective interest, profession, or field. Ego is definitely hard to relinquish, but try it. For all of us, I believe humility is easy to achieve – say that hello, smile, give a compliment, and please acknowledge one another. When you are tempted to dismiss humility, think of C.S. Lewis’s quote,”humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”
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Any lessons of humility you can share? Be humble and share your story. I would love to hear from you.
It never ceases to amaze me how humble some of the big names in various fields are about their accomplishments. We can learn to be sucessfull and good at what we do but to be humble just takes it to whole another level.Thats why people love sportstars like Kurt Warner and Peyton Manning..they are everyday people and so much more 🙂
Sandhya,
I’ve heard similar things about Peyton Manning. I am glad that there are role models out there for adults to follow. The grace that both of these athletes demonstrate is commendable.
Nicely said.
A person has to kill the ego, to get in touch with their true self. Loved this post Rudriben. Keep refilling the shinny ink of yours.
Shrenuj Dave
http://www.shrenujsimplified.wordpress.com
Shrey,
Your point is exactly right. To kill ego is a monumental task and I am uncertain how many people are capable of achieving it. Thanks for reading and of course, commenting!
Another good post…I myself had the pleasure of meeting Tony Romo at Frys and he was a nice guy with the whole picture taking, autograph, and conversating thing…so there are athletes out there that are pretty down to earth. Good ending point on giving people the smile, I try my best to do that everyday because you never know for that small amount of time that you interact with people, that could make or break their day.
Nirav,
Glad to hear you had a positive experience with Tony Romo. I remember you putting a pic with him on your FB account. So cool. Your comment about making or breaking someone’s day is insightful and so very true. Thanks for the comment. Rudri