Was the “catch-phrase” AT&T used to advertise their long distance services during an era when phone rates changed based upon day of the week and time of the day.
My, my, my, how times have changed.
When was the last time you reached out to a close friend, family member, or maybe an old acquaintance? What’s holding you back?
During the holiday season I spend much of my workday on the phone answering questions and taking orders for the fruitcakes made at the abbey. This year I’ve noticed the calls have been a bit longer, more conversational and less transaction based.
So, of course, I wondered “why?”.
Maybe it has to due with our cakes being more geared for “older” clientele, ya know, older people who may live alone, who may not have many friends remaining or who may receive few (if any) visits from family. People who are considered “fragile” and “at risk” due the the pandemic. People who rely on others to take them shopping or simply “out of the house” for a change of scenery. People described as “shut-ins”.
We all know someone like that, right?
Everyone has a story to tell. And all ya gotta do is listen. Are you willing to do that – listen?
I’ve listened to…
…a widow tell me about her husband’s health issues – how he battled constant neck pain, had surgery, became pain-free and then died suddenly from a massive heart attack later that year. And how grateful she was that he did not suffer…
…a delivery driver who has driven trucks of every imaginable shape and size, totaling over a million miles driven, without every having a major incident occur while he was behind the wheel. And how thankful he is for the protection he receives from above…and how much better the world as a whole would be is everyone practiced gratitude daily…
…and many, many more…
The thing is, though, before you can listen…you gotta make the call!
Are you willing to “reach out and touch someone” this holiday season?
A phone call is a far better gift than anything you can purchase at the store or online.
A call is personal. A call says “I care”. A call says “You are important to me”. A call says “Just talk, I’m here to listen”.
To a “shut-in” a call says “I haven’t forgotten about you”.
Nobody should feel “forgotten about” this time of year, or any time of the year for that matter.
So, this holiday season why not just reach out, touch someone and listen?
Dan’s View 
Reminded me of being a kid in my father’s grocery store. While trying to get my job done customers would start a conversation, talk, talk, and talk as I got further and further behind. I complained to my dad one time and he said “you may be the only person they talk with today”. He was demanding of his employees, but never forgot about who he and they served. Sometimes a person only needs someone to listen to make their day.
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Indeed. It was the same way at Walgreens. There’s more to a job than goods & services – there’s relationship.
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