The London Lounge

Recently I sat down in a lab waiting room after checking in and pondering my chances with the relative experience levels of the phlebotomists on duty I settled in for a quiet, wordless wait for a routine blood draw for routine purposes and the silence of the wait was soon broken. A somewhat younger man sat down next to me and noticed my suit. I was the only one dressed like that. He said, “where’d you get that great suit.” I said thank you, I had made for me. “Where,” he said with interest. I use a British tailor that comes to the US. He said “man, that’s great and the shoes are too.” British suit, British shoes, I perhaps shouldn’t have said but did trying to be funny.

Audibly quite happy with that idea, he quickly took out his phone to share pictures of him in one of his suits he wanted to me to see — a striking red colored number with matching shoes. “Stacy Adams,” he said, referring to the designer/brand. I expressed my approval and we passed the time chatting agreeably about such and other things. I was called to a phlebotomist’s booth before him and finished before him. As I passed him in his booth on my way out — hoping he was there for routine purposes too — I said, you take care of yourself. He replied sincerely, and quite boldly, “with love brother, you take care too.” I was surprised a bit, but had to smile, and his phlebotomist smiled wider still. It all certainly made me feel good. Much better than when I walked into that little shop of horrors.

This hemoglobin increasing encounter might have happened regardless of whether I had worn my three-piece LL navy blue nailhead suit that day. Maybe not. I don’t know. But wear your good stuff sometimes. Let it be a gentle reminder to speak a kind word. Someone just might do the same for you. I can’t think of a better reason for some top drawer cloth and visits with our tailors. Can you?

I’d echo that sentiment.

In a world where some people look to gain advantage by driving a wedge between others and whipping up hatred as a means of gaining power and influence - the best counter-strategy is surely kindness and decency?

True leadership in all areas of life is founded on selflessness - not self-regard. A kind act* lives in the memory far longer than any spiteful word.




( * Done while being well-dressed might just make it longer still ! )

"Wear your good stuff sometimes"... Such simple but good advice....