Cookie Break

I've twice been the recipient of some wonderful generosity over the last week. I always feels nice and makes me think about the fact that I could act the same way much more often than I do.

I had a great time during Con of the North. A couple of the games I played are new favorites. But the best part by far was really connecting with a couple of the guys I met there. We had a great time no matter if the game was good or bad. Or if we were doing great or poorly in the game.

Anyway, on the first day three of us headed down to the hotel restaurant/cafeteria where they had a taco bar set up. The food was okay, about what you'd expect when you hear the phrase "hotel taco bar". We had eaten our meals and were just sitting there telling stories about games, gamers, and life when the server comes by to ask if and how we want our check.

"Do you want separate checks?"
"Yes..." I started to reply.
"No, I'll take the whole check here," replied my new friend.
The other guy and I looked at him with surprise and asked "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's no problem."

So I had my taco bar paid for by a guy I had met 9 hours earlier. I was (we were) very appreciative and it just felt very nice.

Then, yesterday at work a co-worker was sitting at my desk helping me with something I'd hadn't done before when another co-worker pops his head over the cube wall and says:

"Come on, we're going to -----. Cookie break. I'm buying."
We paused our work and have him uncomprehending looks.
"I'm serious, let's go. Now."

So up we got, headed down the elevator, jaywalked across the street, and all picked out a giant cookie to eat. I had mine over the next hour and it totally ruined my dinner. Again, I was totally appreciative and happy to be connecting with my (still relatively new) co-workers.

It doesn't take that much to be "generous." You just have to do something nice and unasked for and maybe unexpected. If it is thoughtful it doesn't matter how small it is, the people you do it for will be appreciative and have a better day for it.