Little Things Matter
How is your Summer going? Like many of you this summer, we just got back from our first family vacation in two years…
This is most unusual for me personally, since between state and national orthodontic meetings, my study club in Scottsdale at the Spear Cosmetic Dental Institute, and chasing fish in Florida, I’m usually going somewhere every three months. It was a wonderful trip but let me tell you, going to Disney and Universal Studios to have fun is not an idea unique to our family. My wife and I felt that 1/4 of the world’s population vacations at Universal Studios and 1/3 at Disney World. Booking three months in advance for park entrance tickets and motels (and 2 months in advance for evening dinners) is standard fare this year! Yes, the TSA lines at Orlando airport were also a bit challenging, especially if you did not have the right attitude. I saw quite a few individuals who probably would have benefitted by having an emotional support pet with them, just to stay composed.
The world is tired of Covid, masks, and being quarantined; and they are ready for a relaxing, throttle-down escape, usually titled “vacation”, to get their bodies and families back to that magic state of… normalcy!
Unfortunately, the world’s relaxation time must coincide with school schedules, now that we are back in class in-person. Thus, most of the world is seeking escape over a 90-day period called “Summer Break”, and the popular tourist locations in the world are more popular than we have ever seen in modern times.
Staffs at airports, motels, restaurants, and even cab drivers are stressed with a larger work load than normal condensed into a short period of time. Having worked with the public over the last three decades, I did notice wherever I went, management had stressed to staff, “Make sure our visitors have a good time and don’t forget the little details that will ensure that they do.”
It dawned on me one day, while touring Disney’s Historical Museum, that maybe taking care of the little things was Walt Disney’s secret success formula to making his parks the happiest places in the world!
I have said it many times, “Sweat the details and the big picture will fall into place.” So what are these often-overlooked little details?
The majority of the individuals that I came into contact with (be they wait staff, ride controllers, ticket takers, etc.) wore a smile. A smile can cover up a number of screw-ups and, with a smile, usually comes a positive attitude. You never know when someone is having a really hard time in life or just a bad day. Your smile may have been all they needed to make it through that day.
It was nice to see a fair number of individuals holding a door for not only wheelchair-bound individuals, but just average healthy folks. Try it sometime - open a door for someone and watch, usually you’ll get a thank-you and a smile.
If you really want to top it off, as the person passes by you, wish them a good day. Some people have looked at me stunned. But then they usually catch themselves and return with a smile or equivalent salutation.
While in the parks, we had numerous photo opportunities and, with no selfie-stick, it was tough getting that Hallmark Christmas card shot with the whole family in it. I was a bit surprised (but pleased) how many individuals volunteered to take our photos so we could all be in it. They even gave us our phones back! Several times it was by someone in a group and I would return the favor and take their group shot. Yes, a small detail, but with several once-in-a-lifetime shots secured, it left us with lasting memories of a great time, thanks to someone else caring for a moment.
I challenge all of you to take those little things that someone did for you… those things that made you feel special while you were out of town… and bring them back home.
Make a list and check off each time you do something nice for someone. Start by doing one or two acts of kindness a day and before you know it, it’ll just come natural.
Remember, first we make our habits and then our habits make us!
One last thought on doing spur-of-the-moment positive gestures… and this idea can actually be with family members or someone you know and not strangers, but it still can produce warm, long-term memories as a result. If you happen to be having a get-together, invite someone you haven’t seen for a while and who would get along with those already invited. I’ve done this several times with small groups and you would be amazed how that little gesture can lead to pretty cool moments and memories for all involved.
Let me expound on what happened over this year’s Fourth of July weekend…
The day of our cookout, we were in the pool and my sister said that my second cousin, Todd, and his family were visiting my niece on the other side of Medina. We had not seen them for a while and they had never been to our home, as we always seem to meet at other cousins’ houses. I called Todd to tell him we’d love to see them if they didn’t have any plans for the rest of the day.
Before you knew it, we were having snacks together. After we had been talking for a while, Todd asked if I would mind if we went out on the dock and had his son, Tyler, and daughter, Quinn, try their hands at fishing. As we walked to the lake, Todd remarked, “Uncle Chuck, one of my fondest memories as a child was nearly 30 years ago at your mom’s house on her dock when I caught my first fish!” It warmed my heart that it had meant that much to him. He still remembered the feeling so many years later.
The afternoon went quickly, as both of his children squealed with delight as they caught their first, second, third fish and so on. And you know Uncle Chuck had to teach both of the youngin’s how to check the fish’s teeth and tongues for proper brushing. All through dinner, we heard all the stories about the big and little ones that got their teeth checked. Their mom, Kristen, couldn’t believe how both took to fishing so quickly. I couldn’t help but think, after hearing how much it meant to Todd, maybe genetics played a part.
And you know, Walt Disney would agree that we had created a happy place and we were making memories that I hope will last a lifetime!
Remember, sometimes it’s the “little things” that aren’t so little at all.
Now go out and make some memories of your own this summer…
- Dr. P