Isn’t it nice when you get a little bit extra? Whether at a restaurant, a store, a movie, or whatever it is, most times we are pleased when we get a little bit extra. We recently had a wonderful trip to the Finger Lakes region in New York State. Our last stop was the Village of Watkins Glen at the southern end of Seneca lake. Seneca lake is the largest, and the center lake of the Finger Lakes region located West of Syracuse, New York.
We have a tradition of writing and mailing old school postcards to family and friends from our trips. While having ice cream on the main drag in Watkins Glen, we filled out our postcards and had our youngest daughter, Tessa, 9, go into the post office by herself. This was big for her. She crossed the street and handled her business at the Post Office. She was in view of us the whole time. My wife and I like to take opportunities to let the kids do things on their own, stretching a little at a time in terms of their freedoms, as they grow older. She came back very proud that she had mailed them and we were on our way. After returning home a couple of days later, I got a letter in the mail from the post office. It was from Watkins Glen and inside the letter was the postcard to go to my friend out in Oregon. There was a post-it note on it. (See picture below). We had forgotten to include the actual address of my buddies home.
So what happened here? Instead of the clerk just tossing it in the garbage because it did not have an address on it, the employee took the extra step. They did a little bit extra. The other postcard we had mailed included a return address, so the employee was nice enough to send us the one without the address on it to make sure it got to the actual destination, instead of just the recycling bin. It didn’t take her long, yet it was the thought that counted that she took the time to mail us the postcard. While you might be saying to yourself, “It’s just a postcard!” Yes, it is just a postcard, but it is more: it’s doing that little extra, modeling care and concern for others, and doing what’s right when no one is watching. These are all the lessons our parents, grandparents, mentors, and teachers taught us growing up. It’s really nice to see it in action, even if it’s just a postcard.
It is my hope the leadership team at the Watkins Glen Post Office and maybe even the National Office will recognize this employee for doing just a little bit extra. Without meeting her myself, I bet she’s great. Tessa said she was “super-nice” as she called it and very friendly. So to the postal employee, I say thank you!
Let’s all continue to model doing extra for others as well as celebrating it when we see it!
#KeepRolling #SurviveThrive
If I can help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Quote: “Go the extra mile, it’s never crowded” – Dr. Wayne Dyer
I am happy to announce a partnership with Halfsies Cookie Company. Looking to order fresh, homemade cookies for a friend, event, or gift? Halfsies cookies is your place!
Use the discount code MAROTTA15 for 15% off. My friend David, and his wife Heather, bake these cookies fresh daily, vacuum seal them, and ship them right to your door.
Trust me when I say, these are some of the best cookies I’ve ever had. Give it a shot!
