Xenodochial
This was a difficult one. I really wanted to use a word that actually started with the letter X instead of cheating and using a word that had an X in it, like “eXtroverted”, which I had already used for the letter E. I ended up going to the dictionary and reading all the X words until I found one that I felt described me best. And I am happy to say that Xenodochial fits me to a tee. I don’t believe in being rude to people and always try to share a smile with anyone I pass along the way. I will chit-chat with strangers in line at the store or that I sit near on the train. I don’t force conversation if they don’t want to talk, but I am usually the one who initiates it.
Will Rogers said, “A stranger is just a friend I haven’t met yet.” And I grew up hearing Mr. Rogers ask, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Obviously, not all strangers can become friends, and you want to be safe, but I think it is much nicer to start with the attitude that strangers are potential friends.
I have been in customer service for over twenty years and have had to deal with unhappy customers from time to time. Being human, I know that I am much more likely to go above and beyond for the person who asks nicely. Because of this, I am as nice as possible with people who are serving me, whether it is the waitstaff at a restaurant or when trying to return a purchase. I had a boyfriend once who had ordered his meal without onions, but when it came, there were onions on it. He was so angry, he dumped his plate and smeared his food all over the table and left. I was mortified! And what purpose did that serve? The person who had to clean it up was not the one who made the food, so they were punished for something they didn’t even do, and the one who made the mistake never even knew about it. Plus, if he had just asked, they would have remade his food and may have even given him a discount or a free meal. Instead, he was out the money for the meal and was still hungry, so he had to wait even longer and pay for another meal. He became my ex-boyfriend not long after that.
Michael “Peanuts” Hucko was an Air Force veteran who served in WWII and I met him while working at the VA Hospital in Dallas. While I was helping him, we began chatting and it came up that he played clarinet. I told him I did, too. I didn’t know he was famous! During the war, he served in Europe playing with the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. In the 70’s he performed many times on the Lawrence Welk Show and even had his own nightclub in Denver, where his wife Louise would sing. I told him that I had a poem about clarinet players and I would print a copy of it for him. The next time he came in, I gave him the poem and gave me an autographed copy of one of his CDs, which I still have today. I could have just performed my duties and treated him like any other veteran, but, because I took the time to talk to him, I had an unforgettable experience. Mr. Hucko died in 2003 at 85 years old. He was a super nice man and I am glad I got to meet him.
Being xenodochial goes together with my other personality traits, like being extroverted, optimistic, kind-hearted, and of course, loquacious! But I have gained more than just friendship from talking to strangers. As I said before, I even found out about a new job opening where I worked because I struck up a conversation with a lady while commuting on the train. I was stuck in a job with no promotion potential, but applying for and getting hired for that new job has lead to my current position which is six whole paygrades higher than I was when I met her! It took me a while, but I would never have known about that job if I had just kept to myself on that train.
I believe that what goes around, comes around. It always pays to be kind, even if they aren’t kind in return. If nothing else, it makes me feel good, and if it makes someone else feel good, too, it’s even better.
HootOwl Handicrafts 