2013 - A Few Less Pokes

He was the ultimate employee evangelist!  We were 25,000 feet above Florida flying to Tampa. His name’s Chad and he is one of 9,000 flight attendants in the Southwest system.  He was a passenger flying to his next...flight.  Something seemed strange about a flight attendant taking a flight to a flight to fly.  He proved to be the most interesting in flight companion I’ve had in a long time.  He talked freely about salaries and benefits and routes. Did you know flight attendants don’t have regular routes?  In fact in 6 years he has flown into every airport that Southwest lands in.  He talked about the interesting people he meets. He answered anything I asked.  I know I’m strange but I like to be a good passenger/customer, so I asked him what are the three worst things he has to deal with.  He said, “I’ll have to think about the other two, but anyone will tell you the worst!  Being poked!”  And he jabbed his finger at me.  He said, watch this. About that time “our” flight attendant was collecting trash.  He asked her: “What bugs you most?”  She said, quickly: “people poking me.”  We all laughed.  And I thought, the truth is, nobody likes to be poked.

So, as we wind down 2012 today and receive that “new leaf” that will be written in 2013 may I challenge you to consider “poking” fewer people?   Yes, I know sometimes people deserve it and may even learn from it and I know that it gets their attention when you want it but how about a little restraint? How about occasionally giving someone a pass? How about loving someone through their imperfections instead of constantly nagging them to change?

So, in your list of improving your weight, status, health, and relationships - how about adding a reminder to do less poking of others?