Her Attitude is Golden

We drove into a lot, paused, and up walked a young woman.  She gave us a stub and told us how the lot worked.  Validate and get two free hours or go longer, without validation, and pay $10 for the day.  "Have a nice morning," she said and we drove off to find a space to leave our car.  We instantly forgot her.  And then, I couldn't stop thinking about her.  Parking lot attendant.  $8 an hour.  No benefits.  Full time.  Handing out parking stubs, taking payments or validated stubs back.  Who knew that person in that insignificant job could be significant to me? 


I wondered what it was about her that gave me a good impression.  It must have been her open attitude, a sort of approach that is simple, straight ahead, pleasant and respectful.  In a phrase, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  Treat others the way you wish to be treated.  The simple, perfect Golden Rule.   


A couple of days ago, I read a quote from the San Francisco Giants baseball player Barry Zito (who is paid many millions of dollars a year to do his job) who was asked what he felt like not being able to play in the World Series, and he replied, "You always have to maintain your character. That's all you got. The game is a phase of our lives. Your character is something that sticks with you the rest of your life." 


The parking lot girl must have known that.  It mattered to her to do her job and "put a little mustard on it," as an old coach used to say.  It makes a difference to do whatever it is you do very well.  It attracts in-kind positives right back to you.  Look at me, I'm still thinking about that moment many hours later, and you're reading about it.  I hope I see her again, and I hope she's really busy - spreading the Golden Rule around, showing us all how it's done.