Thursday, April 24, 2008

Appreciation

Showing an appreciation is not something that can be done easily, especially to the person that we do not like. Nevertheless, it is the most powerful act that we can do if we need to have friends in our life. Everybody needs to be felt appreciated. You'll never know that a small praise of yours can brighten someone's day. So don't be a cynical person, don't be too quick to judge without knowing the facts.
Here is a story about a barber who is very cynical and hope we'll learn something from it and start to show appreciations and praises whenever we can.

A man was getting a haircut prior to a trip to Rome. He mentioned the trip to the barber who responded,"Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty and full of Italians. You're crazy to go to Rome! So, how are you getting there?"
"We're taking TWA," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"
"TWA?" exclaimed the barber.
"That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old and their flight attendants are ugly, and they are always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?"
"We'll be at the downtown International Marriott."
"That dump! That's the worst hotel in the city. The rooms are small the service is surly and they're overprices. So whatcha doing when you get there?"
"We're going to go see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope."
"That's rich," laughed the barber.
"You and a million other people trying to see him. You'll be at the back of St. Peter's Square and from that distance he'll look the size on an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."
A month later, the man again came in for his regular haircut. The Barber asked about his trip to Rome. "It was wonderful", explained the man. "Not only were we on time in one of TWA's brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful and I had a beautiful 28 year old stewardess who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $2.5 million remodeling job and now its the finest hotel in the city. They too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us the Presidential Suite at no extra charge."

"Well," muttered the barber, "I know you didn't get to see the Pope."
"Actually, we were quite lucky, for as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder and explained that the pope likes to personally meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down as he spoke a few words to me."
"Really?" asked the barber.
"What did he say?"
He said, "Where did you get the ugly haircut?" !!

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well."
- Voltaire -

No comments: