Sometimes, life gives you the sweetest reminders in the most unexpected places; like the office supply list at work.
Let me take you back to when I worked in an insurance office with one of the kindest bosses you could ask for. Let’s call him Jim. Jim was that rare gem of a boss. He was thoughtful, generous, and truly hands-off in the best way. He respected us, supported us, and never micromanaged. When he made his regular Walmart runs, he’d always ask us to make a list, and I mean anything we wanted for the office: snacks, toiletries, batteries, coffee, you name it he would get for us without hesitation . There was never a budget mentioned. Just write it down and it would magically appear.
One day, my coworker (we’ll call her Sam) added some items to the list. She put down Foldgers coffee, and hand soap — and next to each, she wrote “Great Value” in parentheses. For those who don’t know, that’s Walmart’s generic store brand. Sam was simply being budget-conscious. “Why spend more when it’s just us using it?” was her logic.
Well, Jim returned from his shopping trip, happy to find everything we put on the list, but everything he bought was name brand. Foldgers? Name brand. Hand Soap? Name brand. Even the paper cups and paper plates. The Grass Isn’t Greener—Water What You Have
Sam looked at him and said, “Jim… why didn’t you get the Great Value brand?”
He looked puzzled. “What’s that?”
She replied, “The generic version.”
And Jim, dead serious, said, “I don’t know what generic is.”
Y’all… my mouth hit the floor and I had to catch myself because my chair was slipping from under me.
At first, I thought he was joking. But he wasn’t. He was completely sincere. And in that moment, something clicked for me.
We really don’t know people as much as we think we do.
Jim wasn’t being wasteful or ignoring our request. He truly had no clue what “generic” meant. Raised in a different world, taking over the family business, living life as a single man in his early 60s with no kids, his day-to-day was not our day-to-day. And instead of judging, we laughed (kindly), explained it to him, and turned it into an inside joke at the office.
But the real lesson? Gratitude. Grace. Understanding.
Jim showed us love in the way he knew how: by giving without restriction, trusting us, and showing up. Sam showed thoughtfulness by trying to be practical and frugal. Both intentions were rooted in care — just expressed differently.
That moment taught me that relationships thrive when we make room for differences. Whether it’s family, coworkers, or friends — the people closest to us may surprise us in the best ways. We can work beside someone daily and still not fully know their upbringing, mindset, or quirks. But if we stay curious, open-minded, and willing to laugh and learn, the connection deepens.
So today, take a moment to pause and appreciate the people in your circle. Notice the differences, but don’t let them divide you. Instead, let them remind you that we all show love, care, and intention differently — and that’s something to be grateful for.
Mental Note of the Day: You can work with someone for years, laugh daily, and still learn something new about them tomorrow. Stay open. Stay kind. Stay grateful.
RosalynLynn
Be you so you can be free.
