Today I’m grateful for the time someone takes to say, “Bless you” or “Gesundheit” when someone sneezes.

I’m aware this isn’t always the practice and I understand. I try not to take it personally. My oldest sister always makes a point- whether in a theater, a classroom, a store, in a quiet room, or in a noisy room- to say, “Bless you” to someone. It used to embarrass me a bit to be honest. I’m someone who doesn’t always like to stand out in a crowd- so by someone saying, “Bless you”, it brings attention to the sneezer or the blesser.

But, as I’m growing older and appreciating small and larger kindnesses, I realize I am so grateful for someone – even a stranger- acknowledging another person’s “humanness” (I realize this may not be a word, but let it be so). We are all human. Why not acknowledge each other?

Bless you.