When times are tough, it can be hard to stay positive. Instead of focusing on everything that issues us stress, we can combat negative thinking with positivity and joy. One way to do this is by recognizing and appreciating the people who matter in our lives through gratitude.
We don't need to look very far to recognize the power of gratitude. An expression of appreciation can lead to incredible and sometimes unexpected outcomes, regardless of how big or small it may be. To illustrate this notion, we'd like to share with you some of the inspiring ‘tipping tales’ that involve gratitude and its generous rewards.
A simple expression of gratitude to a service provider can be demonstrated in the form of a tip. In the restaurant business, the money provided by a sympathetic customer can make an enormous difference in the lives of waiters, chefs, and busboys. Most of these employees rely on tips to make up for their low-paying wages.
One legendary example of giving a generous tip involves Frank Sinatra. Once, while dining at a restaurant in Italy, he left a most impressive US$20,000 tip for the staff!
In the US, the popular chain of Mel's Diner is also well-known for its culture of giving tips. Employees report that even customers who can't afford a regular meal will often leave $1 for the staff, illustrating how much gratitude can be exchanged over the smallest gesture.
In a similar way, taxi drivers can also benefit from the extra income they earn from tips. An example of a generous tip given to a cabbie is the tale of New York City cab driver, Mohammed Asyraf. Asyraf was driving a couple through the city when the passengers ran out of cash for the fare. As a thank you, the passengers tipped Asyraf in stock of GMCR Inc.
Years later, that investment was worth over US$50,000! Recounting his story to the press, Asyraf said, “When I allow my passengers to do a good deed, Allah takes care of me in one way or another.”
Finally, people who provide crucial maintenance services can no doubt be thanked with generous appreciation. A prevalent example of this involved a US student called Max Rothman. When he noticed that his campus mail carrier was struggling to stay warm during the winter months, he decided to politely leave a US$50 tip.
The heartfelt gesture was quickly picked up by the press and Rothman was invited to appear on the Today Show. Unbeknownst to him, the production team had tracked down the grateful mail carrier and even set up a surprise US$5,000 reward! For Rothman’s generosity, he too was given a financial reward.
The power of thanks is certainly not to be underestimated! These stories are amazing examples of how an expression of gratitude can come back around in extraordinary and amazing ways.
These stories clearly show that a token of appreciation in the form of a tip can significantly impact someone’s life, even if it may seem like a small gesture. While there are heartwarming characters like Frank Sinatra, customers of an everyday restaurant or taxi driver, or even Max Rothman who demonstrate a generosity of spirit, we needn’t have to be as generous as they were in order to make a difference. All that is required is respect for the hard work of the people we are paying for a service, and showing our gratitude with a simple act of kindness.
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