Tag Archives: Acknowledgment

WHAT’S A SILVER DOLLAR WORTH?

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A true silver dollar is hard to find these days. They have become collectors’ items. The Eisenhower Dollar, although technically not a silver one, is called a Silver Dollar because of its close resemblance to the real thing. So, what’s it worth? It can’t buy you a cup of coffee if you’re at Starbucks or most other places nowadays. You can’t put it in a slot machine. They only take paper money. It is legal tender, but a one dollar coin really doesn’t have much use today, even in Las Vegas.

However, to a local businessman its value has taken on a new meaning that is very special. What’s that you say? Well, it isn’t materialistic or numismatic. It’s actually something “money can’t buy”. But it’s also something that “ money can buy”.  Give up? It’s joy! It’s happiness. It’s gratification. Even love.  How can a Silver Dollar be such a panacea for the conflicts and stress we face and feel in today’s world?

To learn how it’s done, you only need to follow him around to observe him in action.  “Him” is Bob.  Quiet, shy, reserved.  He’ll greet you with a smile, chat a bit and then extend his right hand. Your mind doesn’t know exactly what the gesture is about, but your right hand automatically extends to meet his. You haven’t seen anything in his hand so you’re surprised when something round and silvery slides into your palm, your fingers react by cupping it.  Now your eyes are curious and look to see what it is that was mysteriously placed in your hand. It’s round and silver in appearance. It’s too big to be a quarter, looks about the same size as a fifty-cents piece but feels slightly heavier. Wait, is it a Silver Dollar? It is.  “Wow,” you say, “I haven’t seen one of these things in a long time.” Then the emotions start rushing in.

In my case it was going way back in my memory bank to my grandfather, a kindly Jewish man who came from the old country to the Boston area. A business man, he owned and ran a hardware store in Quincy. I was his only grandchild and a granddaughter at that. We didn’t live nearby, but drove to be with him and my grandmother for Thanksgiving every year. I apprenticed to be a businesswoman under him. He issued me my first social security card at 7, carefully typing my name and some numbers on a piece of paper in his office on the second floor of his store that overlooked the entrance and floor of commerce below. When I was older I would take the train to Boston and transfer to a commuter line to Quincy and stay with them. Every morning I went to work with my grandfather and helped in a variety of jobs. He was a kind and loving man who made me feel special and loved.

When Bob hands you an Eisenhower dollar he will tell you it’s for good luck. But it’s really more than that. It’s a blessing from him. It’s something “special” and “loving”.  But I haven’t told you about the other half of the coin, Bob’s reaction. Your smile, your amazement, your joy, your memories, your thanks. …they bring a special joy to Bob.

So what’s a Silver Dollar worth?  A lot if you live in Las Vegas and happen to encounter Bob.  It’s Bob’s hallmark, when you care enough to give the very best.

By Ellen

THE DOLLAR MAN

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Every day, everywhere he goes his pockets are full of Eisenhower dollars ready to be given to just about anyone he meets.  His goal is to bring out a smile and make a momentary yet memorable connection with people we often don’t acknowledge—waiters, cashiers, receptionists, tourists, people at the next table in a restaurant, those walking by us, business owners struggling during difficult times.  He does not forget that family and friends can also feel taken for granted and that a sign of appreciation can lift their hearts.  The Dollar Man, as he is called, is Bob and he happens to be my husband, the most generous person I know.  For years I have witnessed people who are stressed, unhappy or just having a bad day light up, share a personal story, and give him heartfelt thanks.  I have heard them exclaim with tears in their eyes how they will never forget him, how he has made their day better, how he has made a difference in their lives.  Just the other day when we were visiting a doctor for the first time, the receptionist was very professional, which means that she was efficient yet somewhat detached as she worked through the papers we had filled out.  Although she had glanced at us, there was no real connection…until Bob gave her the coin.  Like most people, the first comment is, “What is this?”  He then responds, “This is for you, for good luck.”  As tears welled up in her eyes she recounted how her father had given her coins that she had saved for years and how those coins had disappeared, possibly stolen by a family member.  It was apparent that this coin she now held in her hand brought back a wonderful memory of her father and eased some of the pain of that loss.  It is really amazing how many people tell Bob that their fathers or grandfathers gave them these coins and how precious it is to recall that memory.  This happens to be the case with our insurance agent who cries every time she receives a coin because it reminds her of her beloved grandfather.  Then there is the owner of our favorite Korean restaurant.  Her business has not been going well but every time Bob puts that coin in her hand, she give us many of those gracious Korean bows, expressing deep gratitude for his caring.   She tells us that this “lucky” coin gives her hope for the future.  To be able to give hope to someone by such a small gift is truly rewarding.  However, I didn’t always feel that way.  When my husband first started doing this many years ago, frankly, I was concerned about the cost and whether this special gift should be given out so freely, perhaps to someone who may not appreciate it.  Not fully conscious of the law of Giceiving then, I did not recognize the joy Bob was experiencing when he let people know they mattered.  I finally learned that lesson one morning while we were having breakfast at a restaurant and I happened to look over at the next table that was being cleaned off by an older employee.  Her face had beautiful character lines that made me understand how hard she had worked her whole life and how much care she put into her work, including cleaning that table.  My heart was moved to let her know how much I appreciated her, so I asked Bob for a coin.  When I gave it to her it was as though we were connected heart to heart, and it was I who wanted to cry!

Through my Dollar Man I have learned that every day we have so many opportunities to gladden someone else’s life with gestures that say, “I see you. I acknowledge you and you matter.”  In return, we receive something truly precious–a heartfelt connection with those who share this planet with us.

PS:  If you are one of the hundreds of individuals who have been gladdened by the Dollar Man’s giving, please share your story with us.

Update on the Dollar Man:  The doctor entered the room where Bob was being prepared for surgery carrying a small wooden box he said he always brought with him when he was operating. With a big smile he opened it up to show us all the “lucky charms” his patients had given him throughout the years.  Of course, Bob’s contribution was right on top.  The “lucky” dollar (not to mention the many prayers of those who know him) apparently did its job because the operation was such a success that Bob was well enough to be released the very next day.  As he was getting ready to leave, the janitor peeked into the room and asked if Bob was leaving.  When we said that he was, he stated, “What a shame.  You’re going to be missed!  You and your coins.”  There was no way Bob would have gone to the hospital without his coins!  His waking time in the Recovery Room and in the Intensive Care Unit  had been dedicated to chatting with the staff, asking them about their lives, their families, their jobs, and giving each one a coin.  Despite the fact he had just had a very serious operation, his love for people had taken over and once again he had made an impact on their lives.  How fortunate I am to continually witness the healing power of love being giceived!

A Mother’s Gift

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My mother was not much of a gift giver on birthdays or Christmas, but I received from her something so valuable that it keeps on giving and being received by my own children.  At the age of seven, she brought me from a single-culture environment to the multicultural city of New York.  She didn’t want to live in Spanish Harlem as our family did, but instead she chose an Italian neighborhood, then a Black neighborhood, a Jewish neighborhood and, after I was an adult myself, finally moved to be with “her people.”  If she could have managed it, we probably would have moved to a Chinese neighborhood because every Saturday we would eat at a Chinese restaurant.  Her love for other cultures was giving me an education in being open minded and getting along with others who were “different.”  From the very beginning, she admonished me that if I was ever invited to eat at a friend’s home and their food was different from ours, I must never disrespect my host by refusing to eat.  Luckily, all of my friends’ mothers were fantastic cooks!  Honoring other cultures was something she ingrained in me.  In college, I was blessed to have four amazing girlfriends from different backgrounds (Black, Jewish, Irish and Greek), and never did it enter my mind that there were any differences among us.  We were truly like sisters.  By giving honor and acknowledgment, I received a sense of belonging.  It was then natural for me to pass this on to my children.  At the age of six our son, Bobby, started reading about Asian cultures.  (It must have been all that Japanese and Chinese food I was feeding him!)  At the age of seven, we enrolled him in a Japanese Saturday school where he was the only Anglo and remained there for ten years.  At the age of eight, he was regularly attending a Buddhist monastery and learning Pali, Thai, and Burmese–and, of course, enjoying their food.  He is loved and accepted as part of this community, acquiring that comforting feeling of belonging.  In college, he majored in Indigenous Studies, learning extensively about the Hopi and Navajo cultures and languages.  Honoring and acknowledging the people of other cultures has brought him many long-lasting relationships around the world. My gift from Bobby has been his teaching me “hello” and “thank you” in several languages. To experience the smiles, the astonished faces, and the connection that is made by saying even just one word in the language of someone far away from home is my greatest reward. Recently, we were at a restaurant sitting next to five Japanese women when Bobby suddenly turned towards them and spoke in fluent Japanese. There was a unified “Ah!” from all the women–their delight at finding an American who spoke Japanese clearly showed on their faces.  How easy it is to make people happy when we acknowledge their culture in some way!  The next morning we were having breakfast next to a Japanese couple and I noticed that they hadn’t gone to the counter to order their food.  I asked Bobby to tell them what they had to do. Their gratitude was visible and because they didn’t know much English, Bobby went with them to the counter to translate.  They were so delighted that they gave him their information and told him they would be happy to tour him around Tokyo.  This happens time after time.  The honor he gives other cultures returns to him in gratitude from others and their willingness to create friendships.

Then there’s our beautiful daughter, Melissa.  Her connection with Spirit started when she was very young and brought out in her both compassion and passion for helping those who are marginalized by society.  When she went to college in New York, as part of a class assignment, she went to Rikers Island (a prison colony) to help facilitate a class for incarcerated youth.  This is indeed a different culture, one which many choose to ignore.  There she found how to direct her passion and compassion: helping at risk children through education.  She tells of how her rewards are immediate as she sees a child find him/ or herself acknowledged as a precious human being who has a chance at life.  Of course, my joy is increased knowing that our daughter is Giceiving unconditional love and appreciation!

Seeing the law of Giceiving in simple every-day acts brings me the realization that being in its flow brings us all together.