Man runs into a former waitress years later — and learns the 3 words he once told her helped her land her dream job as a flight attendant
A stranger can sometimes leave a bigger mark on someone's life than they will ever realise. A few words, said in passing, can stay with a person for years and change the way they see themselves. Author and executive coach Walter Nusbaum discovered this years later, when he unexpectedly ran into a former waitress from a restaurant he and his wife used to visit often. Posting as @theareteway, he recalled that on September 8, 2026, she had told him she wanted to become a flight attendant. She had an interview with a major airline coming up, but she wasn't expecting much. The jobs were competitive, she said, and she had kept her expectations low so she wouldn't be disappointed. Later, he said something to her that she would never forget.
Back then, he had merely asked her, “Why not you?” and eventually forgot that he had even said it. He also told her that if she could convince them that she genuinely wanted to give passengers the best possible customer experience, that was what the airline would care about. When they met again, she told him she had always hoped they would cross paths so she could thank him. She said she thought about his words when she walked into that interview. She got the job and was now loving her career as a flight attendant. She needed someone to ask why her dreams couldn't be hers.
All it takes is one person to make you believe you have a shot. @jean.melvin.9 wrote, “You are such an encourager. We all can do that.” @macdonald.nancy said, “And we also never know how kind words to someone can change their day and make them think otherwise.” Meanwhile, @watkins.russ wrote, “So glad you got to see her again and be reminded that your words made a difference. Well done!”
A simple act of kindness came full circle years later. More than a decade ago, TunDe Hector’s car ran out of fuel, and Chris Wright stopped to help. He drove her to a gas station and gave her the $40 he had with him. They went their separate ways, never expecting to meet again. Three years later, Wright’s mother needed a home nurse. The family hired Hector, unaware she was the same woman Wright had helped years earlier.
When Hector mentioned the stranger who had once stopped for her, Wright realized who she was. “TunDe, that was me,” he told her. They both cried when they recognized each other. Hector was also struggling to pay for nursing school. After Wright’s mother died, the family raised money for her instead of buying flowers. A fundraiser that started with a $1,000 goal eventually raised more than $20,000 to help Hector pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.
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