Recently, at the Smile Cafe, I had been entrusted with the role of 'Greeting' people at the entrance. The role can be pretty tricky - especially since the Smile Cafe is run in the middle of a fair with thousands of people streaming by! Amidst all the chaos, we try to explain the concept to those wishing to dine and also control the flow of people.
One such guest, was a young father who was accompanied by his one year old daughter. After a two minute conversation about what we're trying to do, he says he'd like to wait outside for his wife before he comes in. I shift my attention to all the other guests walking in, until ten minutes later - when he urgently taps me on my shoulder.
'Can you please look after my Daughter?', he says, 'I need run somewhere urgently - will be back in a couple minutes!'
With not much choice, I agree - and move towards his daughter who was about 20 feet away. As I'm walking, my first thoughts are 'What an irresponsible father! - Who trusts strangers so easily!'
And that is when it hit me. In that brief two minute conversation, the father saw me volunteering at the entrance of the Cafe and had probably connected with me in some way.
It wasn't a decision made through the mind - 'Siddharth seems to be educated, and is not serving as part of his job or non-profit' - but something far subtler and unsaid. It was a connection rooted in trust.
As I reflect upon the incident a couple days later, I'd like to think that the space we had managed to create went a long way towards deepening that trust. :)
One such guest, was a young father who was accompanied by his one year old daughter. After a two minute conversation about what we're trying to do, he says he'd like to wait outside for his wife before he comes in. I shift my attention to all the other guests walking in, until ten minutes later - when he urgently taps me on my shoulder.
'Can you please look after my Daughter?', he says, 'I need run somewhere urgently - will be back in a couple minutes!'
With not much choice, I agree - and move towards his daughter who was about 20 feet away. As I'm walking, my first thoughts are 'What an irresponsible father! - Who trusts strangers so easily!'
And that is when it hit me. In that brief two minute conversation, the father saw me volunteering at the entrance of the Cafe and had probably connected with me in some way.
It wasn't a decision made through the mind - 'Siddharth seems to be educated, and is not serving as part of his job or non-profit' - but something far subtler and unsaid. It was a connection rooted in trust.
As I reflect upon the incident a couple days later, I'd like to think that the space we had managed to create went a long way towards deepening that trust. :)
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