Difference

I found out this week that I make someone's day better. I have a friend at work, who I'll call Yesi, and she's great, a lot of fun. Last Friday, when there were very few "grown ups" about, we learned a lot about her life. She's sweet, nice, and interesting. She's from El Salvador and has been here for 20 years. It will take her 3 more to gain citizenship even though she's been paying taxes for years and is married to an American.

She's been going through some tough times with her daughter and earlier in the week she said:

"My sister in law asked me the other day, how I was doing, because she knows I've been very stressed. I told her, there is a lady at work and all I have to do is say one thing and she makes me laugh and laugh and I feel better."

That was sweet to hear and I was happy that I provided her with some relief.

Today, towards the end of the day, she looked at me for a minute and said "you know, when I first saw you, I thought you were stuck up." I told her I wasn't surprised because I get that a lot, people initially thinking I'm snobby. Later she said,

"I was sitting here thinking about how I've been stressing out and feeling bad. But my stress is mellowed and I feel better and it isn't so bad. You're so nice and friendly and funny and I thought 'I thought she was so stuck up when I first met her.'"

I make someone's day better. Sure, people think I'm stuck up and, because evidently it isn't commong for women to refer to female friends as "girlfriends", some colleagues also thought I was a lesbian at first, but I'll take it.