Something happened this week I have never experienced before. In my entire life, it was a first. It was simple, but it left me stunned. So much so, I don’t recall the details.

I was at the mall and hungry. I was alone and knew nobody. I was also preoccupied because I finished a two-hour computer training only moments before.

I circled the food court and most everything was fried or loaded with carbs. I then spotted Subway, my favorite choice, and next to it was Chipotle. I thought, “Yes! I haven’t had a black bean salad bowl in a long time.”

I stood in line, ordered my salad, “No rice, black beans, pinto beans, let’s try a little tofu, Pico, medium salsa, no cheese. That’s it. Looks good!” When I went to pay, the young woman asked if I wanted anything to drink and I said, “Water would be great.”

So far, it was a routine activity. Then it happened. The cashier said something like, “You are so cheerful and positive, your meal is on me.”

I shook my head and said, “What?” She repeated herself. All I remember saying is, ”Well, thank you. Are you sure? How sweet of you!”

Don’t get me wrong; many people have bought me a meal, but I have never, ever, received rewards for being cheerful or positive. What comes naturally to me, on a good day, is usually looked upon with curious skepticism.

I found an isolated counter to sit and eat my salad, trying to use my logic to process what just happened. The company was probably randomly treating people to restore their reputation, and the clerk could have been leaving her shift and needed to choose one last person. Logical, right?

Whatever it was, I felt genuinely complemented, from a total stranger, without teasing, criticism or cynicism. It was a wow moment and felt good.

The young girl behind the cash register innocently and kindly gave me what I didn’t know I wanted or needed, positive recognition.

The experience reinforced how we grow and learn about ourselves throughout life. We are never too old to gain insights.

A random act of kindness, from an unsuspecting source, is a gift I will pay forward. It was too valuable not to duplicate.

Until the next time: Live while you live!

(Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of My Clients…My Teachers, and the blogger and encourager of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.)

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