Be Like Mary Sue

While postal workers often get a bad rap for being irritable, in my town, they are pleasant. When my kids were young, one worker was so sweet, that I would actually let people ahead of me in line so I could interact with her. Mary Sue was a smiling, middle-aged woman with curly hair and twinkling eyes. She called every single person “honey.” She would always ask how we were doing and seemed to genuinely love people. This wasn't only her work persona. One time, I saw her in a store parking lot. Two little girls and their mother were walking in front of her. Mary Sue started talking to them, calling them sweetheart, complimenting their dresses. Her true nature was to be loving and positive.

Over the years, I got to know her. She would always ask about my family and talk a bit about hers. Those brief interactions always left me feeling so cheerful. I told my kids how much I liked her. They would secretly smile at me when we were called by her in the post office line. One December day, I told Mary Sue how much I appreciated her good nature. I asked what her secret was. She replied humbly, "Why not be kind to people? I have a good life. I love my family. I have a good job and great co-workers!" I mentioned my grandmother’s birthday was Christmas Day. She said that she was also born on Christmas Day! I said to her, “No wonder you’re so special.“

I told my kids, “Be like her. Spread joy and kindness and positivity into the world. It’s so simple and yet so powerful.”

I was sad to hear it when she retired, but I am certain she is still out there spreading smiles to everyone she meets.

If we could all be more like Mary Sue, imagine what the world would be like!