What a parking attendant reminded me of kindness

I have several fitness coaching clients who live in an upscale apartment building. In the 3 years I’ve been going there, I’ve become acquainted with some of the parking staff who vary in age and cultural background.

I recently pulled into the parking structure and saw 3 of the attendants standing together chatting. I recognized 2 of them, and as I shut off my car, I felt an “inner nudge” to go speak with them. I had a few minutes to spare, so I walked over and joined them.

I introduced myself to the attendant who was new to me—a tall, lanky, young man with a broad, welcoming smile. He told me his name was Fallou, and that he was very happy to meet me. What struck me was that I could sense his happiness.

He told me he’d just been hired and that he was originally from Senegal. I spent a couple more minutes chatting with the group, then headed to my session. Because name recall isn’t my superpower, I typed Fallou’s name into my Notes app, knowing I’d be seeing him periodically, and we all know how good it feels when someone remembers our name.

He was on duty a couple of days later, and as I slowly drove by, I called out, “Hey, Fallou from Senegal!” With his bright smile, he enthusiastically answered, “Hey, Tom! How you doing, brother?” It’s with this same enthusiasm that he acknowledges me each time I see him. This boosts my mood and inspires me to pass that same energy on to others.

Fallou serves as a reminder that authenticity and kindness are gifts that benefit both the giver and receiver. Neither bending over backward nor reinventing the wheel is necessary to make people feel seen and uplifted.

Last week, I took the above photo of Fallou and me and let him know of the impact he’s had.