In our last couple of +1s (here, here and here), we mined some wisdom from a recent chess adventure weekend—the Middle School National Chess Championships!

Let’s continue.

First…

The update…

Emerson wound up drawing his opponent in Round 6.

He’s entering the final round in about the same position in which he started—tied for 28th out of 233.

Note: He wound up taking a couple byes for the late games as he wasn’t feeling 💯 % as he picked up something from the last week of school and we wanted to make sure he got a good night of sleep.

Perfect.

He missed tying for first in the last nationals by half a point. Next year he’ll probably enter in the Top 10 and have a shot at winning.

Awesome.

Now…

We had a couple-hour break between rounds so we went to Whole Foods to pick up some food—rotisserie chicken, an orange and some coconut water for curious souls.

😆 🤓

Now…

I don’t get out much (I’m a bit of a hermit these days!) so any time I’m out and about, I’m actively looking for ways I can create micro moments of awesome.

Or…

To get more technical on you…

“Micro moments of positivity resonance” is how Barbara Fredrickson puts it in her GREAT book Love 2.0.

You know…

Those moments in which you’re truly present and connected with someone.

Even if only for a few moments, you can create super powerful micro moments of “resonance.” That’s the essence of what Barbara calls “Love 2.0” and that’s what I’m looking for on this trip to Whole Foods.

The first moment occurs as I’m grabbing some iceberg lettuce.

I say hi to the guy who’s stocking the shelves and he says: “Looks like some cilantro fell down there. Let me get it.”

I say: “Yep. I know what that’s like. I used to work in the produce department for five years. I used to close the store down.”

He says: “No way. That’s awesome. I like to work the mornings—get to unload the trucks and get it all set up.”

I say: “Yah. Driving forklifts is awesome.”

He agrees and asks where I worked. I told him it was way back in the day in California at a grocery store called Lucky that’s now called Albertsons.

(Fun fact: My dad worked in that same grocery store for 39 years—most of that as a produce manager with the last part as a supervisor. I started my first job bagging groceries the day after I turned 16 and worked in the produce department through high school and college at UCLA.)

He says: “No way. I grew up in California.”

I say: “No way. What part?”

He says: “Southern California. Newport Beach.”

I say: “Dude. That’s crazy. I grew up in Fountain Valley. [15 min from him!] I went to Mater Dei.”

He says: “Hah! I went to Corona Del Mar High School!”

Then he turns around to show me the back of his jacket that says “OCC”—short for “Orange Coast College.”

I asked him what led to him moving to Austin and…

We’re less than 90 seconds into our interaction.

And we’re already long-lost bros.

He asks Emerson what his name is and gives us both a fist bump and a big smile as he tells us his name is Maurice.

If Dr. Fredrickson was there, she’d check the box on the creation of positivity resonance.

✅ 🥼 📋

That’s the first successful creation of a micro moment of awesome.

The second one came when I went through the normal checkout line rather than the self-checkout.

That’s another personal practice of mine.

Any chance I get, I interact with a human. No self-checkout for me unless I’m really in a hurry.

And…

That’s Today’s +1.

See if you can create a micro moment of awesome with someone.

Have fun.

Let’s go!

Micro Moments #1996

In the Grocery Store

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This +1 Inspired by:

Love 2.0

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This +1 Inspired by:

Love 2.0