Getting home from a trip of any kind is wonderful but soon the realities of life creep back in.  It’s back to work, back to cleaning up the place, washing clothes, shopping, etc.  Thankfully I have a husband who cooks, but like everyone else I know, I come back to bringing home the bacon and frying it in a pan as the song goes.

What a luxury it is to stay in a nice hotel.  My hosts this weekend, as with all the states I’ve had the chance to visit, put me up in a very nice room, a place where I could get away and be by myself to work or nap or write.  It’s a blessing I don’t take lightly as I know it is an expense to the organization I’m there to serve.  As a kid who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s living in a lower middle class family, my memories of any vacations usually happened during transitions from one Air Force base to another and we stayed at smaller hotels, usually with an outdoor pool and hopefully during warm weather. We still thought they were awesome.

We couldn’t afford to stay in really nice places, and so as an adult, I am so grateful for a really clean place with great service.  Like bed fairies.  I love bed fairies.  You leave your room to do whatever it is you came to do and you get back and the bed is made, the garbage is taken out and the bathroom is cleaned and restocked.  What more could you ask for?  As the person responsible for cleaning two thirds of the bathrooms at our place, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for those bed fairies.

And then there is room service.  As a kid I was just excited to get ice cream at the Howard Johnson restaurant but to be able to pick up the phone and ask for exactly what you want and someone brings it to you is wonderful.  Eating in the privacy of your room, especially when you’re traveling alone is a gift.  Sure the amount the hotel charges is ridiculous, but every once in a while it’s a really nice treat for yourself.

At these kinds of things, there are always lunch meetings and receptions and again, there are very kind people asking you if you want more tea or what kind of wine you want.  There are bellmen who open doors for you and people at the front desk who text you to ask if there is anything you need.  There’s the gentleman who asks at the end of your breakfast if you would like more Diet Coke to go, before you even ask.

Sure, I understand that this is a service industry and they’re paid to do these kinds of things, but when done with a smile or a greeting, it can make your day.  If you really think about it, none of these things are really extraordinary in and of themselves, just kind things done with a great attitude and a smile.  Things that any of us could do on any day at any time for someone else.  Sometimes it’s the smallest gesture done with great heart that can change someone’s day.

I’m not saying we need to go to each other’s homes and make each other’s beds but there are a million kind things we can do for each other that takes very little time and no money.  Done with a smile and a great attitude, we could be the change we want to see in the world and be an example to others in the process.  A kind note, a shoulder to lean on, or a listening ear are oftentimes the only thing a person needs when they’re struggling a bit.

So I continue to be grateful for the little things, the kind notes given to me by students and colleagues, the beautiful red rose next to my bed from my best friend, hugs from my family, and yes, bed fairies and room service.