“I want something special for my birthday!”
He looked at me with a frown, “but we never give each other presents.”
“Not a present, just something, a flower, even.”
“But I bring flowers every Friday.”
“So, bring an extra one. I don’t know, just something to feel it’s my birthday.”
On Friday morning, I got up to this:
A handful of delicate roses,
three balloons over the kitchen table,
One set from my favorite dishes - the ones I only take out on special occasions,
and my usual peanut butter and honey.
A note said, “Happy Birthday :) !”
I stood there with a smile and watery eyes! He nailed it.
He succeeded in making my day, with so very little. And you know why? Because he knows my routine and what matters to me. He paid attention to how I turn trivial occasions into special ones for myself.
By showing me that he pays attention, he made me feel that he cares.
So, why am I telling you all this? Not because I want to show off my awesome partner (well that, too) but the main reason is that there’s a simple lesson that I want to share:
If you want someone to feel that you care, pay attention to them!
Pay attention to what they do and how they do it, listen to what they say and how they say it.
It's true for your family but also goes for customers, clients, and readers. Don’t try to impress or tease them into thinking you care. Just get to know them. Give them what they need, not what you think they want.
The real beauty in this is that you end up genuinely caring once you start paying attention, whether you want to or not. It just happens.
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