“‘I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.’” – R. Tagore
Yesterday I got to work earlier than normal because a customer from the East Coast requested a call. Just when I was about to get to the office, he canceled. I wasn’t upset in the slightest. The extra time was spent walking aimlessly through the streets of San Francisco, which was a favorite past time of mine before I moved to greener pastures in the Pacific Northwest.
I purchased a cup of coffee from Focaccia, a trendy pickup and and go type of eatery. The smell of fresh bread permeated throughout the bakery and even carried a slight whiff down the street. One woman even stopped to smell the baked goods as she carried on to work.
After I got my coffee I walked to the pier and found a bench to sit on. The sun was up and the crisp morning sea breeze gave me a renewed sense of living as I stared off into the distance.
I thought about the coffee shop. It wasn’t so much about the artfully placed food or dark mahogany floors that caught my eye, but more so how I was treated.
I just ordered a cup of coffee and felt like a King. I was greeted by all the workers. Seeing their ear to ear smiles taught me a very important lesson. It taught me how service to another is powerful.
I carried this idea with me to work. I looked at every interaction as a chance to give.
Whether it was a smile, helping a customer with an issue, opening a door for a colleague, making dinner for my sister, cleaning my apartment, writing this for you, it all became an act of service.
Nothing felt like a chore. I was grateful to have the ability to serve.
When service is done in this manner, meaning without constraints, expectations or requirement, it becomes a joyful activity.
Perhaps you can take this with you wherever you go.
With Love,
Anand Swamy