A Valentine's Day Tale at White Castle

The Unexpected Joy of Fast Food Festivity

My wife suggested that we go to White Castle for Valentine's Day. I suspect this clever overture had something to do with us having a twelve-year-old son. For a pre-teen boy, there is no greater expression of love than little square hamburgers, a bag of onion chips, and a soda machine that allows every variation and concoction of flavors to be mixed together.

Knowing that White Castle rolls out the figurative red carpet on the day of love and would likely be busy, I went online to make a reservation. To my surprise and chagrin, there wasn't a single spot available. Not to be discouraged, however, we made the 60-second trek from our house to do carryout. We knew it wouldn't have the same sense of romance, but at least we would be content after having our collective mind set on the WC.

We walked in together and were greeted by a hostess. She asked if we had a reservation. We explained that we tried to get one, but all the times were taken. To our surprise, there were tables they held for walk-ins! Our smiling hostess took us to our table, which had a red table covering, Valentine's Day menus, and a centerpiece with a candle. I could go on about the decor and ambiance, but I want to share what the most memorable thing of the evening was— the workers.

Of course, it is noteworthy that they would not let us do anything. Two or three workers, acting as waiters and waitresses, retrieved condiments and filled our drinks. They regularly checked on us. Okay, yeah, just like a fancy restaurant. But listen. I have never seen that much joy on the faces of fast-food workers. They were delighted in what they were doing. You could tell that it truly was their pleasure to serve.

This observation deeply and profoundly affected me and made me wonder—What was it about this special event that caused the employees to be so happy and exude such joy? What are we not experiencing, creating, or tapping into daily that could elicit the same sense of fulfillment and enthusiasm in our everyday interactions?

Perhaps joy is found in the spirit of giving. Or, maybe it is rooted in the communal joy of shared experiences. Maybe it is in breaking our routines, which transforms an ordinary day into something memorable. To me, this highlights the importance of creating and cultivating moments that bring out the best in us, of encouraging a culture where joy and enthusiasm are not just reserved for special occasions but are a part of the fabric of our daily lives.

Question

1. How can we create more moments that bring out the best in ourselves and those around us, not just on special occasions but every day?

2. Would you mind answering the three poll questions below? : )

Peace,

Brandon

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