The Hamburger Hat

Years ago, I went to a pop-up holiday boutique to do some Christmas shopping. As I was checking out, there was a man in line behind me wearing a large hamburger hat. I’ll always take an opportunity to chat with strangers, so I said hello and “nice hat!” He thanked me and proceeded to tell me he had more than 200 hats and said he tried to wear a different, highly visible, and preferably outlandish hat everywhere he went. The hats were his effort to bring a smile and to pave the way for conversation, and he went on to say, “we would not likely be talking now, if it weren’t for my hat.” 

For most of us, we aren’t likely to wander around in hamburger hats, but what if we left the house with the goal of trying to bring a bit of humor or a smile to others we encountered? Rather than being so wrapped up in our own lives and our own petty concerns, I wonder how our days might feel if we shifted our thinking and decided to be a bit more deliberate about greeting one another, sharing some simple pleasantries, or at the very least, providing an interesting story for people to tell about ‘this guy I saw today wearing a hamburger hat.’ 

So, here’s a small challenge for you: As a holiday gift to yourself and those around you, make a small decision to bring a bit of connection and joy to your day. Smile, start a conversation with a fellow customer in a check-out line, or go big and wear a crazy hat or do something that gets people curious and interacting. Let someone get in line in front of you, or compliment someone. Then, just be open to what comes next. Some folks will be too distracted to even notice your effort; others may be gruff and shrug off your polite attempts to engage. That’s ok. Keep trying! You might surprise yourself and end up having an encounter that feels good or even amazes you. Once, after helping an older woman with some groceries, she turned to me and said, “I want to thank you by reciting a poem I wrote years ago.” I can’t remember the poem, but I can tell you that I will never forget that small interaction. It was magical! 

Whether you’re a hamburger hat person or not, I hope you get surprised and can find a bit of joy this season. As humans, we are flawed, silly, outlandish, and messy. Celebrate it all. If you’ve had an amusing or touching encounter with a stranger this season, please share it here. Let’s look for good, let’s laugh together. Let’s look for some magic, a bit of peace on earth, as we observe this holiday season.