In our busy lives do we tend to forget that we should slow down and remind ourselves that all people deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. Let me share a touching story:
In the days when an ice cream cone cost much less, an 8 year old girl entered a cafe and sat at a table.
A waitress approached and asked her what she would like. The girl inquired, How much is an ice cream cone with two scoops? ” “twenty five cents,” replied the waitress.
The little girl pulled her hand out of her pocket and counted her coins. “How much is just one scoop of ice cream?” People were waiting to be seated as the waitress was becoming noticeably impatient. “15 cents!” she said sternly. The little girl again counted the coins. “I will have one scoop please.”
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The little girl finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began clearing the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly next to the empty dish was .10 cents-her tip.
What did you get from the story? Does it open your eyes as it has mine? My rant is done!
“Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness, especially those whom we perceive can bring little or no value to our lives.”
47 users commented in " Respect "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI love this story Mark. It reminds me that it’s always important to be grateful and embracing.
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@LizS, We definitely need to be grateful! Thanks!
It’s lovely and really touched my heart! I agree with you totally, respect everyone around us. Bring smile to the people around us!
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@Rosabel, Absolutely!
Right on, Mark!!! Kindness and respect is key. It’s so important to treat people like you want to be treated.
Thanks much.
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@Rosy, I agree….thank you!
re: especially those whom we perceive can bring little or no value to our lives.â€Β
Huh, if someone crosses paths with me, then they bring value to my life somehow. The woman who dumps my office garbage can everyday. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who ignore her when she enters their office. The bus driver, the cab driver, the janitor, the garbage man…on and on and on. They are all doing something valuable. The old guy on the street corner. My daughter sits down and has a good old chat with quite a few of them. She often learns something and feels good for her conversation.
Okay, Mark, I don’t like that statement. More so, I don’t like the fact that the statement needs to be made in the first place. Sigh….
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@Urban Panther, Unfortunately I think we take for granted those around us and our initial perception is that their value to our lives is limited. I think we need to pay attention and realize that everybody has value and everybody should be treated with respect. Thank you for your comments as always! Great feedback!
What a sweet and sort of sad story
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@Suzie, It is! π
wow- thats te sweetest story. Im guilty of this. I get wrapped up in so much of what i need to do, and any deviation is an annoyance. I tend to do it to people Im closest to, whic his either better or worse.
Kelly Turner
http://www.groundedfitness.com
@Grounded Fitness, We can all take steps…I think. π
Mark what a great reminder! I have been nudged a lot this past week–so much so I am starting to bruise π Thank you.
@KD, Thanks for your feedback!
Thanks for the reminder!
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@J, thank you!
Unfortunately, I think many have removed the word “respect” from their vocabulary… Thanks for the lovely post.
@DC, Thanks for your comments!
Making sure that the waitress got her tip was more important than enjoying the two scoops of ice cream that she wanted. What a great story π
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@Marelisa, It is!
That’s so cute!
I definitely need to respect others more an not be so in a rush. We all come to meet people with issues of their own and we shouldn’t be just focused on our issues.
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@Girl on Top, Absolutely! Thank you.
What a moving story. It really is important to remember to respect others, especially now when people seem to be doing so little of that. Thanks for this reminder!
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@Felice, thank you for your input!
I’ve read this one before…and every time I hope it really happened to someone. I’m sure it has somewhere. It touches on so many things that are great – stereotypes, respect, consideration, etc.
Most of us were taught these values (to respect everyone regarless of age and the value of someone elses hard work to make ours that much better). If we are not happy with how people are treating others, then we need to change our attitudes and teach our children to have those values. It starts with us. Like the story you told earlier of helping strangers and having it stay with them. I firmly believe that people will pass these on if they recieve them. You may not be able to directly change the world, but by helping out or showing one person consideration they now have their eyes open and hopefully will pass it along to others.
Great conversation starter!
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@Diana, Very good input. Thank you for sharing! π
great story. thanks for the reminder.
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@Blake, thanks Blake!
very true. This week at school my students are learning about random acts of kindness:)
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@bobbi, very nice topic. π
Awwwhhh that was so sweet!
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@Marcy, It is!
Amen!! I don’t like seeing people treat kids rude just because they can.
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@Munchkins, I don’t either!
Aw, that’s sweet.
Definitely teaches us to respect everyone- it doesn’t matter who you are, everyone deserves respect. And good things can come from where you least expect it!
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@Sagan, Absolutely agree with you!
I love that story – I’ve seen it somewhere before. It is so touching. Thanks for sharing it.
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@FatFighterTV, Thank you!
To me this is one of the biggest lessons in life that we can learn. To respect one another no matter who or what we are!
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@suzanne, We definitely should treat each other with respect!
Mark, I think my recent vacation post was like this when I wrote about the shriveled folks in casinos. We are all the same internally, no matter what’s on the outside. We all deserve reverence.
@POD, Well said…thanks for sharing!
What a great story. I especially love the concept that sometimes, when we think we are doing someone a favor, they are actually the ones who are giving something to us. You never know who the stranger at the door really is, eh?
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@tfh, very true!
What a great post! Sometimes we all need a reminder that everyone deserves respect. Thanks, Mark!
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@cathy, everyone does… π
awesome reminder Mark. It’s kind of like what Oprah talked about yesterday. People these days are so rude…….civility has went out the window and we need to bring it back. We have the power to touch lives in a positive manner every day!
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@Annette, “We have the power to touch lives in a positive manner every day!” very true!
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Is that a TRUE story?? I have tears in my eyes.
People make way too many assumptions. And they are usually negative assumptions. How awful. For all of us.
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@meleah rebeccah, I also think too many of are assumptions are negative…thanks for the feedback!
Excellent story! Nutrition for the soul π
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@Stephanie, I appreciate your feedback…thanks!
I’m going to make an effort to remember this story the next time I lose patience (and unfortunately I just did — on the phone with my cable company)! Thank you for passing it along.
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@Sherre, Thank you!
I feel this every time I’m at a Restaurant, maybe because I don’t look like I have a lot money.
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@chris, we all need to treat EVERYONE with respect, regardless of appearance.
Yep. A definite lump in my throat, and a great lesson indeed.
Great post my friend.
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@Strong One, Thank you sir!
That’s a sweet story. What a loverly little girl.
I probebly don’t understand it as much as the rest of you because I come from a non-tipping culture. My understanding is that tipping is a social que that is drilled into people at a young age, is that right?
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@Gabrielle, hmmm…good question. I have always been expected to tip for a service, so probably correct. Thanks for your input.
GREAT story!! That is truly remarkable.
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@eatingbender, π
Mark, this is a great story. It reminds me that I shouldn’t judge others, or be impatient just because something isn’t moving along as fast as I’d like. Thanks for sharing this!
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@Lance, Great points Lance!
I have this problem when driving and standing on line. I don’t know why these two situations make me so damned impatient, but they do.
Hey Mark, can you email me at [email protected]. I need to ask you something.
@Irene, I also become impatient…a challenge indeed. Thanks for your feedback!
If she went low carb, with no cone, she could have had two scoops for 20 cents, and still left a 20% tip!
OK, nice story π
Great story. Is it just me, or does it seem like showing respect is almost considered a sign of weakness these days?
I am also quite impatient when I have to wait. I need to get over myself…
Sweet story!
Respect is too often used, today, as a euphemism for “fear.” It is also, sometimes, confused with “courtesy,” something we would do well to extend even to those we don’t always like or respect. It is muddled up with the equally muddled up word, “tolerance,” a concept that sounds good on the surface but leads to tough questions of “where, exactly, do we draw the line – aren’t some things truly intolerable?” I believe in giving benefit of the doubt and treating others with kindness and courtesy, hoping to earn their respect and hoping that I find reasons to respect and admire them as well.
The little girl was courteous, kind, and respectful. The waitress should have given her the benefit of the doubt, and the tip should have earned her respect for the child.
What a beautiful story. I read this to my son this morning. He is 8. I was so happy to see that he got the meaning. It is so sad that we are so quick to judge people. I do worry about youth and the values that are being taught.
What a great story! We are in such a rush, we immediately become impatient with people – on the roads, at work, at home, and in an ice cream shop. We are so concerned about ourselves, we forget to stop and consider that people have goodness in their hearts.
That is a very touching story! It is important to treat people the way you want to be treated. Nice post! π
What a fantastic story! Thank you for sharing it!
A beautiful story. Sometimes respect and courtesy slip so easily out of my life in its hectic, technologically gorged, go-go-go pace.