Good
morning, Monday. I'm all about Maven today and can't thank all of you enough
for your interest and support. I'm feeling excited about what's to come and
can't wait to collaborate with you and create some amazingness.
So yesterday was the 15th anniversary of 9/11 and it's still is such an intense day. On Saturday, I went to the new Westfield mall thing at the site of Ground Zero and though as I mentioned on Facebook the Oculus is simply stunning, the whole notion of Ground Zero as a tourist destination/theme park feels wrong. I couldn't wait to leave and just found the whole experience so off putting. I really feel strongly that this was the wrong way to honor such a horrific loss of life. I'll leave that there.
And as you know, my love for New York is stronger than ever. I thought about where I was on 9/11, as we all do every year. But what got me this year is I can't think of many places where something so tragic could happen; yet somehow make you want to live there more than ever. That's how I felt the days following, and that's how I feel now. My New York pride runs deep, and I still feel incredibly lucky to live here, with my treasured friends and fellow New Yorkers to get me through tough times.
So yesterday the air cooled a bit (today is very much a day like 9/11 was ps) and I stayed in my Brooklyn neighborhood, walking Khan and enjoying being outside, but still observing my feelings of sadness for what happened 15 years ago. Later in the day I went to Trader Joe's, a store, which incidentally always makes me feel lucky to be an American somehow- we have so much bounty and choice when it comes to food, when so many others have nothing. I get that feeling every time I'm in that store, and yesterday was no exception. I live close to the Atlantic Avenue location, and even though it's usually always crowded, I find myself in there a few times a month, particularly when I'm in need of dark chocolate coconut almonds. Those things. So good.
As I was paying for my staples, the young woman next to me started talking to her cashier. She asked him if they were hiring in a quiet voice. What followed will stay with me for a while and I wanted to share it with you.
The cashier was an older gentleman with kind eyes, who proceeded to tell this young lady everything she needed to know about how to get a job at Trader Joe's. He showed her how to fill out the application, who to speak with in the store when she was done filling it out, how she would be interviewed on the spot and how to speak about why she wanted the job. He then told her all of the shifts that are available and how the company can be very flexible when it comes to hours, and how she need not worry she was not dressed up to go talk to management- he told her how casual the place was in terms of dress and what mattered was that people were good people who loved the brand and wanted to be there. Truth- this woman was not in great shape- I could tell she had fallen upon hard times and she seemed so grateful for his advice and care. What got me about this whole experience was that on 9/11, on the day that changed us forever, we all took the time to pause. To talk to our fellow New Yorkers. To console. To help. To share information. That's what I love about this city- that on such a tragic day, New Yorkers showed who they really were, and 15 years later, I got to see who we are right now.
Life is moving so quickly, we rarely take the time to help others and guide them when they ask for our help or advice. Taking the time to be considerate and listen should not be the exception. They should be the steadfast rule. I was so impressed by this man- his kindness, his professionalism, his honest and helpful advice for a woman who clearly needed a break. It was a little thing, but it was very big for me. In this fast moving train we are all on, we must take some time out- not just for our own friends and family, but also for total strangers who may need a hand.
Hats off to Trader Joe's and that amazing encounter. Of course I was moving so fast myself I forgot to get the crew member's name, but I'll always remember his kindness and how he made this woman feel special and appreciated as a human being. That's some amazing post 9/11 New York special sauce right there. Now let's spread some of that everywhere. I felt lucky to witness something so simple, yet so profound.
Cause that's what's up this seeing the good in humanity kind of Monday in the 212. Yours, in giving a little to get a lot. XO