I was at Target the other day and in a hurry, which is nothing new. While my daughter had an appointment, I figured I had just enough time to grab a few things, run to another store and grab a few more things, and still have time to hustle back to pick her up too.

While in line at the register, an older lady in front of me was struggling to get her cash tucked safely back into her wallet after completing her purchase. As the cashier watched her fussing, she said something to the woman that really hit me.

“Honey. It’s OK to take your time and put your money away. Everyone here can wait.”

I felt like I’d been hit square in the chest. In my selfish, self-focused moments, I was in a hurry and not paying the least bit of attention to anyone around me as I mentally ticked off how many minutes I’d been in the store already, my list for the next store, and if I would have enough time to pick my daughter up without being late. I didn’t see anyone or anything else.

But the cashier did. And her small kindness was just enough to make me slow down. That woman in front of me needed to hear those words. She didn’t want anyone to fuss over her, she didn’t want to be a bother, so she was trying to hurry to just get out of the way so the other shoppers could get through the line quickly. With encouragement to take her time, she tucked her money away and thanked the cashier before leaving.

The cashier then looked at me and said, “The world is so crazy. I just worry that she’ll go out there and someone will be waiting to rob her of her money, or maybe hurt her. That really bothers me. It’s not a problem to take a few extra seconds, and if anyone here doesn’t like it, well, too bad.”

She really made me smile. She’s so right.

Take care of other people, and look out for them, regardless what others think. And as I learned in this experience, to do this, you first need to SEE other people and stop worrying about yourself so much. What might help someone today when you’re out and about, at the store, at work, or just going about your day?

Even a smile goes a long way to making someone’s day, but imagine what thoughtfulness like this cashier’s words and gesture might do for them? How it might change their perspective and help them to have a nice day instead of ‘just another day’ like all the rest?

I hope you’ll stop and see people and do or say a quick ‘something’ to make them know they matter and are seen. And if anyone on the sidelines doesn’t like it, well, as that wise cashier said, “too bad”.