My habit of offering everyone sweet treats with a big smile is already going strong for over 17 years. I realized as much as it is a life changing moment for the recipient, it is also a great way for me to balance myself when I’m stressed.
Based on a recent wellbeing training, topic was ‘resilience’ I realized it became one of my methods to move from a stressful moment into a more balanced way moving forward.
With this in mind let me share a recent encounter which was a meaningful and a deep experience on HQC High Quality Connection in my daily life.
As part of doing Chocolate Angel deeds at Metsä Group, my daytime work employer, I tend to spread smiles also with everyone from our canteen staff. They meet me as Chocolate Angel about once a month, while I noticed just doing it once makes already a huge difference. Smiles and positive interactions are in the air every time I interact with all of them.
Earlier this week my job left me quite stressed, I thought I needed to move my body and get some positive energy. The ‘once a week’ Chocolate Angel on my office floor took already place, so I decided to walk to the canteen with my box. Meeting just seven people and their reactions lifted my mood. One of them reflected that this is such a kind gesture, in passing I mentioned I do it sometimes when I’m stressed.
Next day, I went to my usual 10:45 lunch just when our canteen opens. The same woman with whom I interacted already hundreds of times before was coming up to me and gave me a hug. She said that is one important reasons why they are there. And that whenever I’m stressed I should come to get myself a hug.
To realize that my side sentence stayed with her, all the way to the next day where this hug meant everything for her and myself. Writing this I also realized it was such a great example of Compassion from her, she noticed I struggled, with a bit of delay, she reacted and that made all the difference.
These are the work places and the people we need, at the end of the day, it is about interactions between humans which makes the difference.