PERCEPTION

Before we went to NYC people told me that New Yorkers are not nice. I decided not to judge (like we so often do) and instead experience with my own eyes. 

I often meet people that expect others to be nice to them or treat them in a certain way. Instead of expectations I believe in being proactive and starting by giving other people the best version of yourself, which includes smiling, complimenting and asking questions. 

NYC was great, I fell in love with the Concrete Jungle, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and just walking around exploring. 

And the New Yorkers? 

I met with Grace, the hotel receptionist that had no choice of smiling and being nice (being proactive again). I spoke with my uberdriver Abdellah, who was so excited of his upcoming two-month trip to his country Marocco to visit family and friends. 

I met with Qionche, a young guy from Tennessee who moved to Harlem to do Urban Studies with the goal of making an impact in Harlem. He didn’t know how yet, but that is ok. His will to do something will shine true. 
I spoke to Rad, a young New Yorker who said he could never live anywhere else. We spoke about the $1 pizza slice (which was actually really good), the pace of the city and that Manhattan never sleeps. It might be true as I have barely slept. 

The last person I met was Maria in the customer service counter at United. We had checked in and haven’t received any seats. 

Let me share our conversation. 
With a smile I walked over and said: ”Who is the nicest one?” 
And directly went over to Maria, she seemed liked the nicest one. 

”It depends what you want?”, she answered. 

”We didn’t get any seats?”, I said followed by: ”Why is everybody so nice in New York?” 

She laughed and said: ”It is so funny that you say that because the guy before you just said that you New Yorkers are not nice at all.” 

We were both laughing and like magic I am now boarding my plane to LA with upgraded seats.
A friend of mine told me: ”If you meet three assholes in a day, you should look yourself in the mirror, because you might be one too.” 
​
I believe that you in some weird and fantastic way, will get what you give. But you have to start by giving.