Even in a Diet Coke

Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love my Diet Coke from Sonic.

The styrofoam cup, the crushed ice, the Diet Coke. I love it all.

It is part of my daily routine—every morning before work, I stop at Sonic to order my $1 drink. Every morning. So, of course they know me there.

Sometimes, the manager will greet me with my Diet Coke in hand before I even order. Other times, when I try to pay the $1.08, he waves me off and tells me to have a great day.

I met one young man who on his last day working for Sonic thanked me for always being so kind to him. He made sure I knew that he would still be working at Sonic every now and then. I told him how proud I was of him. When I see him at Sonic now, it is like seeing an old friend.

But, most days, the same woman comes to greet me and deliver my Diet Coke. And we visit. She is trying to get her life together. She lost her way as a young woman—had two children. She has not seen the father of her children in more than 15 years. She spent four years in prison for drugs. Her daughter who is in college lives far away. She lives paycheck to paycheck. Her 16-year-old son had to quit school to help with the bills.

Yet, every morning she greets me with a smile.

We make small talk, but sometimes she asks me questions about life, insurance, raising kids, or about cars. And many times I find her encouraging me. I will comment on the weather—“oh, it’s so cold,” or “oh, it’s so hot.” Her response is always the same, “I love it.”

She reminds me to be grateful.
She reminds me that kindness matters.
She reminds me that everyone has a story.

She also reminds me that joy can be found in small things, not just in our circumstances.

And, joy can even be found in a Diet Coke.