The Brad Pitt Moment

This is a revision of an article I published exactly 4 years ago.  Now with video!

One of the most influential people in my life was a guy I knew for less than 2 minutes.  Compared to other stories I have this will seem super mundane, but stick with me... that's kind of the point.
I was working as a grocery bagger for Thompson's Food Basket in Peoria, IL.  One day I manned the register and soon got into the flow of quickly handling customers.
"Hey how's it going," I'd say perfunctorily.
Bleep Bleep Bleep.   I'd scan their items.
"That'll be 45.60$"
"Thanks.  Have a nice day."
Over and over I'd run them through like a blur.  I was a young man being assimilated into the machine of the modern, busy world where we plow through our day mainly lost in our heads.  Strangers around us interpreted as either obstacles or gatekeepers.
The next customer came up.
"Hey how's it going?" I said not looking up as I reached for his items.
"Good man.  How are you," this shapeless customer replied.   
"Good," I said as I begin to scan.  Bleep bleep bleep.
"No man," He said with authority, "how's it going?"
"Huh?"
I lifted my gaze up as if broken from a daydream to see a man in the prime of his life.  He was handsome, fit, and had all his attention focused upon me.  He was radiating a positive energy.  He seemed to genuinely be inquiring about my state without any kind of agenda.
"Oh... I guess I'm good," I stammered.
"Right on," replied the guy with a warm smile, still looking at me.
We finished the transaction and he went his way.  Never saw the guy again.  That's my story.

This happened over 20 years ago and I still remember it clear as day.  Why?  Cause a super cool Brad Pitt type of dude gave me all his attention for a minute.  He acknowledged me: a shy, skinny, socially awkward 16 year old who still hadn't kissed a girl.  For a moment I wasn't just a bumbling kid that handled groceries for minimum wage.  I was a bro.

Think about this:  Who was the Elvis of the Mayan Empire?  Who was the Michael Jordan athlete of the Mycenaeans?  Who was the legendary hunter of the Apache or the beauty queen of the Han dynasty?  Surely these personalities burned legendary at one point, but they are all forgotten now, just as this anonymous cool guy is nameless.  He could very well be dead.  His ego, just like that of all the Incan emperors you can't remember, has crumbled to dust; but the waves of energy he pushed out into the world live on.  Because of him I try (though often fail) to take a beat and acknowledge the people around me.  Because of him I'm writing this post.  
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I used to imagine one day I'd maybe change the world in a monumentally positive way, like Hellen Keller or Abraham Lincoln, and perhaps I still might.  But I strongly believe our real contribution occurs this day, when you walk out your door to grab a coffee, take the subway, or buy your groceries.  What kind of waves of energy are you pushing out into the world?  Let me encourage you to jump on the vibration of that nameless cool cat of Peoria, IL.  Take a moment to acknowledge people.  Pour a few seconds of all your attention into little genuine gesture of "I see you" or "I get you."  It could be the brightest spot in that person's day, and just maybe they'll remember it, and emulate it, decades later.