Don’t panic; this is Take Pen To Paper with a new name. I’ll be sending out more about that later. Until then, this is what’s on my mind this week.

If you are like me, you hear it all the time: “I’ll be glad to help.” I am guilty of saying it myself. Then, we don’t help unless we are specifically asked. And, those who need help may be hesitant to do just that.

I find it easier to follow through with an offer to help by finding myself in the right place to see that help is needed and spontaneously taking action. Or, when I’m in the grocery store, I’ll call that sick friend who can’t get out and ask what they need.

“I’m at the grocery by your house. What can I bring you?”

Doesn’t everyone keep a grocery list going?

We must make it our job to help, and just do it (to borrow a slogan from Nike).

Years ago, I was in a Florida Publix grocery and happened to witness an exchange between a manager and employee. Publix is known for its customer service. The employee asked a customer if they could help them out to their car with their groceries. The customer declined. That did not fly with the manager. He called the employee aside and told them helping the customer to their car with their grocery wasn’t a question. In the future, he was to tell the customer he would help them take the groceries to the car and do it.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the store I was in last week. Every employee wears a vest that says “Here to Help”, “Happy to Help”, or something about helping.

When I shop, I often need help. Big store chains are under the impression that all of their customers are at least six feet tall. I am not. With my arm extended, I can reach shelved items as long as they are no higher than six feet. Even then, it may be a struggle to get the item I want. But some stores have one or more shelves higher than six feet!

I found myself in the “Here to Help” store looking at the bottles of red food coloring that extra foot plus some above my head. Even though an employee stood right next to me, I reached (I always figure that I can at least get a stretch out of my attempt). My reach was not enough. The employee beside me didn’t notice, or ignored, my struggle and walked away. Before I could ask for help, I heard from my other side, “Here, let me help you.” I thought it was another employee. I was wrong. It was a customer who saw my struggle and jumped into action.

That customer didn’t give me a choice. They just did it. His action took five seconds out of his time and prevented me from having to search for help.

Encountering people who recognize that help is needed and take action is where the good in life and resulting gratitude really show up in life.

I was grateful to the stranger who took action to help me.

We need to be the people who just take action when help is needed. If we practice, we become known to others as people that others don’t mind asking for help. They’ll know we mean it when we say, “I’ll be glad to help.”

7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good:

1. We don’t hesitate to help children. We shouldn’t hesitate to help adults. We all need help at times reaching something. 🌺

2. It is only through our interactions with others that we learn who will follow through with their word. Deepen your relationship with friends and family so you know who you can ask for help.

3. It’s a good thing to be observant of those around us so we know when they may need a small action of help.

4. It’s probably no coincidence that Newsweek ranks Publix number one in customer service as a supermarket and pharmacy. 🏆

5. Here is a red velvet cake recipe. The amount of food coloring required is more than in one bottle of red from a multi-pack. I ended up buying four packs. 🍰

6. It is a good thing to offer and follow through with helping both friends and strangers. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.

7. I am grateful for my family and friends that I can depend on for help. No hesitation required.

Thank you for reading. Do you have people you can depend on for help?

Until next time,

💙

Susan

Who was the last person who surprised you with help? Leave a comment and let me know.

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I have a 2nd weekly newsletter about journaling. It’s a great way to learn about journaling, especially if you are new to the habit. If you are interested or know someone who would be, check it out at From The Pen’s Nib: A Commonplace Book About Journaling.

And coming soon, I will have my monthly roundup of Take Pen To Paper: When the Pen’s Nib Meets the Paper. I’ll be sending out an explanation, so you won’t miss anything!