Cause and Effect

   "Even tiny changes to the inputs to a large system can have an overwhelming effect on the system's output." -Kenneth S. Leong
  
    Most of you have seen somewhere a clip or highlight of Matthew Mcconaughey's Oscar acceptance speech. I think the one thing everyone took away from that besides "Alright, Alright, Alright." was "Gratitude Reciprocates." Now some people interrupt this very differently, some might say that it sounded very "New agey", or like something from the book "The secret", put something out in to the universe and the universe gives it back. Some might call it karma. Some might just say that's a good ole East Texas boy saying the Golden Rule, Treat others how you would like to be treated. But the one thing we can all agree on however you interpret it, is that it is dead on accurate. 
   I know I'm a little late on this blog, right, the Oscars were how many weeks ago? I actually had no intention on every blogging on the Dallas Buyer's Club star. But I ran in to the quote at the top of the page today in the book I'm reading and it reminded me of his speech. Cause and effect is a universal law, but most of us don't realize that the smallest things can have such large effects. My wife has always laughed at me that I attract bad service at restaurants. And she has been right, for many years. And I was always very quick to point out the bad service, to them directly or the manager. Maybe that's why it kept coming my way! I recently started only pointing out the times that I have good service, and not just exceptional service but even just satisfactory. Leaving bigger tips, and calling the manager over to tell them how great our service was. Things have literally changed! I have been getting great service lately! Now some might call it luck, but even if it is only that my own perception has changed. Instead of just waiting for the one little slip up, knowing my order is going to come wrong, I had an attitude. My attitude has changed, maybe they feel that off of me. 
   But the point is, you have no idea what impact a small act of kindness can have. Maybe that larger tip eased some immediate stresses of bills and rent for the server. Maybe the compliment to the manager got the server a raise. Then what kind of impact does that carry over. The server's kid gets a new pair of shoes, he's no longer teased at school. The possibilities are endless! 

---