Every morning, I pass a construction site on my way to work. Traffic around the site is always beastly. Half a dozen mammoth dump trucks are usually lined up to turn left into the chaos. Sometimes, we wait endless minutes for them to exit and enter. The construction also creates a lane closure, bottle necking traffic. I could probably go another way and it would be faster. Given my short fuse for traffic and frustrating drivers, I’d be better off with the detour even if it weren’t faster.
But I suffer the mayhem for Felicity.
Felicity is the flagger who works the morning rush. And, in the bitter Seattle cold, in sun or rain, she always – always! – smiles and waves at each passing car. She’s the long lost friend who celebrates a reunion, the Buddy the Elf when he hears Santa is coming. Her joy is uncontainable and real. You can see the smile in her eyes, not just her actions.
Felicity reminds me that attitude is everything.
When you think about the job of flagger, you don’t naturally envision a wonderful career. Besides the weather, you are inhaling car fumes and getting covered in dust all day. And lets not forget the port-o-potty facilities. Just the thought makes my skin crawl. But instead of dwelling on the negative, Felicity sees her position as opportunity to greet the day, and each passing vehicle, with her own ray of sunshine.
By watching her, I’ve learned that, with the right attitude, even the grittiest jobs become enjoyable. I’ve practiced this philosophy, and do you know what I’ve discovered? When I’m dwelling on the positive, the task I was dreading goes faster and easier. I learn and grow, and – God forbid! – I have fun! Best of all, positivity is contagious. It softens hearts, builds comradery, and leaves a mark.
She is a reminder that, no matter how badly your life is going, there’s always someone else in a worse position. And you never know just how much you might make their day, might raise their spirits, by opting for positivity. Every morning, Felicity raises my spirits for the workday ahead, and gives me a jolt of happiness with which to face its challenges. Wouldn’t it be great if more people were like that?
The world could use a few more Felicitys.