Have you ever felt like your work day was a re-run of some old TV show you have seen dozens of times and really did not care to watch?

For whatever reason, mine started out that way until…

…the unusual entered my vision field as seen through the bay window near my desk.

Honestly, my first thoughts were labeled “Wow” and “Cool”!

Much to my delight the olive green car with white sidewalls, shiny silver rims, and open top pulled into a parking spot smack dab in front of our building where one could not help but notice.

Pedestrians walking along stopped dead in their tracks to take a picture, talk to the middle aged couple, and simply soaked in something out of the ordinary.

I am not a “car guy” by any stretch of the imagination.

Decades ago I did my first oil change.

I had the car up on the ramps, drained the dirty oil into an empty oil pan, and started to pour in the fresh five quarts of liquid gold into the car.

I had accomplished the mission, or so I thought, which I had set as a goal only to realize one had to reinsert the drain plug before pouring in the new oil!

An oily mess all over my in-laws driveway – I wanted to hit or throw something!

I am sure I expressed a few choice words!

However, I became a “car guy” for a few brief moments this morning.

NASCAR, no need to worry!

I took a moment to go outside to talk to the couple, who more than accommodated my desire to chat and ask about their baby, their MG.

My mind was declaring, “O-MG!” at the chance to see something I do not ordinarily see (or give a rip about!).

I did not obtain the year of the car.

However, they were more than happy to mention the brand’s British roots and talk a little about their car, the company in general, and how they came to own it.

A few moments later I returned to my desk to do what I do, spirits lifted, and my mind off the TV re-run beginning to my day.

As I thought about it a little more what about the five minute, positive interruption to my day swung the pendulum the other way?

A few words popped into my noggin:

• Exceptional
• Unique
• Out of the ordinary
• Different
• Classy
• Great first impression
• Fun to own

I began to allow the thoughts and words to tumble in my brain.

Here is what came out of the drying cycle.

If the sight of a car can have such an effect on a non-car guy, shouldn’t I be able to have an even greater effect on those around me when I proverbially pull up into a parking spot in front of another’s window?

• Shouldn’t I be exceptional?
• Allow my one of a kind, unique nature to be expressed?
• Deliver an out of the ordinary result?
• Be different than those around me?
• Conduct my affairs with class?
• Smile and make a great first impression by putting the needs of others ahead of my own?
• Be fun to be around?

As it is commonly expressed, “just saying”!

The only thing I wish I could have done, but did not get to do was take the MG for a spin around town.

Somehow I don’t think the owners would have obliged my request.

However, one can wish.

How can each of us offer some hope, make someone smile, or be instrumental in turning the tide in another’s day?

It’s something worth pondering, getting behind the wheel, and taking out for a spin!

 Photo Courtesy of Bruce R. Cross