This happened to me recently and I feel I must share it as it made me so happy and I like to spread happiness.
My life these days revolves around the care of my Mum. I spend pretty much all of my time at home since I am a 24/7 carer.
I try to look after myself and so I pop out to the shops or go for walks and being a technology dinosaur, I go to banks and post office for finance related activities.
Actually, I have chosen to be a technology dinosaur ever since the day the banks first tried to get me to use ATMs (remember those - Automatic Teller Machines or something like that aka Hole in the Wall banking). I tend to resist as long as I can but eventually, they do beat me as pretty much the world and his dog adopts and embraces the new technologies and so it becomes increasing difficult to remain an old dinosaur. So yes, I used ATMs and I still do 
But online banking is a no no for me as I just love going to the counter and speaking to a human being and in my foolish / naĂŻve way I think I am helping keep that person in a job. They rather foolishly believe the bank will find a new job for them after the robot/ATM has replaced them 
Anyway, so the human touch - we talk about the weather, how death and taxes are the only certs in life etc. etc. Even as we do this, the [foolish] teller will say, âSir, do you do online banking?â and I think to myself, âHow sad, little do they know they will soon be out of a jobâ. Anyway, I say no and I donât have a SmartPhone etc. etc. By then the transaction I went in for has been completed and I am off, back to my [sad / not really] little life.
So why is he telling us this I hear you ask? I thought he said something rather nice happened, whatâs nice about this nonsense little story about going to a bank when you can do it from the comfort of your home?
Well, let me tell you .
First, a few weeks ago, as I walked into the the bank and joined the queue, I wasnât expecting anything, possibly some ear burn about how I would benefit from online banking etc. But being second in line, it was soon my turn and so I walked up to the counter and I was greeted. âHello, Mr. ManjiB, how are you?â Such a simple phrase, yet it filled me with joy. All I had done was walked up to the counter and hadnât even said hello or anything. The joy came from being recognised and being greeted by name without me identifying myself. The teller, was one I have known for many years but I donât see her much these days because a) I bank only once or twice a month and I tend to go to another branch. and b) they (tellers) tend to get moved around as branches close etc. I must admit, I also know her by name, but thatâs because she wears a name badge and has a slightly unusual name which I find helps me remember a person more easily. But for her to remember my name and to welcome me in the manner she always does was such a lovely feeling and I am so glad I insist on going to the counters to deal with human beings.
That put me on a high for some time - I just felt so special after all I am housebound in the main.
Whilst still on a high, a week or so later, I went to my GP surgery and again, I thought instead of ringing for an appointment, go in person and speak to a human. Now sometimes, doctorâs surgery receptionists get a bad press and I have to say sometimes it is justified, but here as with the bank experience, the same thing happened. There was a client ahead of me but when they finished and as I sent to window, it happened again. âHello Mr. ManjiB ..â Well I was once again as proud as punch. To be recognised and addressed by name by people I donât really know and hardly see and who btw must see many other people in their time is something so wonderful.
So that folks, is something rather nice that happened to me and that is why I will always, always go for the personal touch given the choice. There is absolutely nothing like it.
I really do hope that in reading this, you too felt some of the joy and happiness that I feel to this day
Namaste|
