Standing in line at Starbucks, I got to talking to the man next to me. He told me that every morning he drives north to this particular Starbucks to buy
his drink and breakfast before getting on the freeway to travel south again to Denver where he works –
all because the staff is stellar – unbelievably friendly. “It’s not like other
Starbucks.” It adds about 15 minutes to his commute to make this coffee run,
but evidently it’s worth it. I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but this
phenomenon fascinated me, and I started to go to this Starbucks just to observe
the dynamics. And, it was true. Mostly female employees, they were like morning
stars that must have risen hours before we arrived, shining down and lighting
our way. The woman at the register asked one man how his birthday had been. She
asked the next customer if he had found the folder he had misplaced. And, she
complimented the third gentleman on his jacket. It was my turn. I thought maybe
I was looking into the eyes of Venus. When the dark haired beauty, probably a
student at the nearby University of Colorado asked how I was, it felt like if I
had said I was having a hard day, she would have pulled me aside and urged me
to vent. Her enthusiasm was sincere. I wanted to order more than a decaf
Americano – like maybe a couple of salted caramel cake pops, some almonds, a CD and a
veggie plate, but I reminded myself that coffee was all I wanted. “Okay Hon,
that’ll be right up.” It felt like we were all swept back in time to a 50’s diner.
People long
for connection and caring. Taking it a step farther, we also yearn to be
accepted unconditionally. A part of us
heals when we tell our deepest (what we consider darkest) secrets to a friend,
counselor, coach or spiritual advisor who can receive it without judgment.
Accepted, we forgive; we’re a little easier on ourselves. It could be
someone who loves us enough to know that whatever we did was what created the
person we have become today. Or it might be a confession to a total stranger on
an airplane or to a priest. My mother always says that the concept of Catholic confession was the precedent for counseling.
Too, we are
thirsty for touch. Yoga instructors will tell you that the more people they can "assist"(helping them to move more deeply into a pose), the more likely those individuals
