The smallest acts of kindness can render me tearful.
Yesterday I was at a doctor’s office for a routine procedure and while I waited for my turn, I observed a harried front desk person who was juggling busy phone lines while tending to in-person patients. I wanted to jump in to help her (which, obviously, was not gonna happen) and wondered where her back-up support was.
When an older man approached, clearly confused and in need of more than a finger pointing to where the restroom was, I saw the receptionist’s affect change entirely. She put all the ringing phones on hold and took a deep breath, adjusted her posture and stood. As if she realized a reset was in order to focus her full attention on the sweet gentleman in front of her.
As phones continued to chirp and buzz and other patients walked in, she ushered the gentleman down the hall by gently putting her hand on the small of his back. Such a simple gesture but it conveyed kindness and a willingness to be tender and considerate of a human who was shaky and afraid.
When the receptionist returned to her desk, she saw the fresh line-up of people and rather than jump into the fray between phones and people, she paused to tell those waiting that she’d be right back. She was headed ‘to the back’ to get more help. I don’t know who she rounded up to return with her but they tag-teamed as her colleague focused on phone calls while she tended to those in person. With a genuine smile and renewed patience.
This is not the first time I’ve seen a stressed-out front-line employee recently. It seems the phrase ‘short staffed’ applies to every business and enterprise. My heart aches for those who clearly have it within them to be compassionate and considerate but are besieged by expectations that are too broad.
No big conclusion from me, other than sharing how grateful I was to see the kindness between the receptionist and the sweet man. Put the world on pause…and one hand on his back. Sometimes it takes so little and can mean so much.
Vicki ❤
Victoria Ponders 
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