McCook is blessed with people in businesses, civic groups, various age-ranges, and areas of expertise working to make McCook a better place to call home.  We want visitors, returnees, and residents to be grateful for their experiences in our community.

Can you identify with any of these scenarios and discover how to ultimately make the day better? 

I go to run an errand. I arrive only to find several people in line ahead of me. I observe the clerk feeling stressed and not giving off a friendly vibe. It is human nature to prepare to greet this clerk with the same level of angst. 

But what if I put on my kindest smile and in a pleasant voice note something about her?  “I really like your necklace” or “Is that a picture of your daughter (which I can see taped to her desk)?” The transformation is amazing—and all it took was one polite question while acknowledging her as an individual.

Who doesn’t have a traffic story? 

I leave a local business which requires a left turn across oncoming traffic. Cars are  backed up from the stoplights in both directions. I wait. Finally, a driver notices me and slows, so I can make the left turn. I see he is smiling. I smile and wave. The generous driver smiles and waves back. I am reminded to be so thoughtful the next time I see someone waiting.

What about dealing with a service person who doesn’t know the importance of service with a smile?

As my daughter, grandchildren, and I shared lunch at a fast-food restaurant, I was reminded of a challenge for each of us. The young man stationed at the counter, whose job it was to take our order, could not have been a poorer ambassador for the franchise if he had tried. He was emotionless; he was unfriendly; he got our order wrong and did nothing to correct it despite my politely telling him that we did not get our correct order.  We discussed his behavior and his attitude as we shared our lunch. We had several options, but we chose not to make his day any worse or cause him to lose his job. 

How about dealing with a situation out of your control?

We attended a special dinner recently, which included a preordered main dish to be picked up prior to the event. When our host arrived for pickup, the woman in charge greeted her in tears and said she was unable to complete the order. Our hostess had two choices: she could chew her out and tell her she ruined the day or she could practice grace. She prayed over this distraught woman, which no doubt improved the worker’s attitude and her day. No one suffered without food, and none of us would quit giving business to the retailer. 

Can you turn the table on what is usually a no-win situation?

My phone rings as we are preparing to sit down to dinner. I often react in one of two ways: tell the caller to take me off her call list or hit the end call button. 

What if instead, I say: “Thank you for doing the hard work of raising money for a good cause.” I continue, “I’d like to contribute right now, but I have other obligations. I promise that I will donate locally when I am able and I appreciate you doing your job.” 

No doubt the caller on the other end is sputtering as I hang up. I hope I made her day - all without contributing a dime. The conversation took 10 seconds, and I still had a lovely dinner with my family.

All these situations make me appreciate this quote by Wayne Dyer: “Go on a rampage of appreciation, rather than discussing the evils of the world, and offer joyful commentary whenever possible.” 

We do not know the burdens others carry, which reminded me of an article I had saved from Ladies Home Journal entitled, “The Politeness Project.” 

Try this project for one week: make a point of remembering your manners, especially with people who seem determined to make us forget them. Disarm people with charm and a smile. Let your children see you write and mail a thank-you note. Have your children write them as well. See what an improved attitude does for someone else. 

People really do warm to you when you notice them and appreciate their efforts, whether they are changing your tire or fixing your dryer. Being mannerly is the right thing to do and a surefire way to feel better about yourself.

McCook is a great place to call home for many reasons.  Let’s add one more reason to the list: “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

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Pam Wolford is a member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee, chair of the MCFF Scholarship Committee and always has a smile on her face.