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A man was holding up the line counting his change. The cashier's response is going viral.

Spring Bowlin was doing a little shopping on her lunch break when she saw something that might make even the most patient of us groan.

As she got in line to check out, Bowlin recalled in a Facebook post, the older gentleman in front of her pulled a handful of change from his pocket to pay for his items and began to slowly ... count ... the ... coins.

Visibly flustered by the line growing behind him, full of potentially impatient shoppers, the man fumbled the change, lost count, and had to start again, according to Bowlin. The man only grew embarrassed and more frantic.


If you're imagining an aggravated cashier pointedly drumming her fingers waiting for the man to finish, well ... you'd be wrong.

Bowlin, watching from her place in line, praised the "beautiful cashier" who stepped in to put the man at ease.

"This beautiful cashier takes his hands and dumps all the change on the counter and says, 'This is not a problem, honey. We will do this together.'"

The man was incredibly apologetic to the cashier and Bowlin, who waited patiently for him to finish his transaction, reassuring him that it was no bother at all. When Bowlin stepped up to the counter herself, she thanked the cashier for being so patient with the man.

It's no wonder Bowlin's post has since racked up thousands of shares and comments from people moved by such a simple act of kindness:

My heart was warmed at Wal-Mart during lunch.This gentleman's items were scanned and he was given the total. He looks...

Posted by Spring Herbison Bowlin on Thursday, November 9, 2017

Studies have made it clear: Being in a hurry really hurts our ability to empathize with or feel compassion for others.

Raise your hand if you've ever been irritated by a traffic jam caused by a car crash in which someone might have been hurt or if you've ever grown frustrated as the person in front of you in line at the grocery store pulled out a wad of coupons (or a pocketful of change).

It's simple human nature, but experts encourage putting a little effort and mindfulness into paying attention to when being in a rush may be clouding our judgment.

The overwhelming response to Bowlin's post proves that compassion matters and can make a big difference, even in small doses.

As the cashier told Bowlin, "What's wrong with our world is we've forgotten how to love one another."

Now that's a message worth spreading far and wide.

All images provided by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

Collins after being selected by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

True

A changemaker is anyone who takes creative action to solve an ongoing problem—be it in one’s own community or throughout the world.

And when it comes to creating positive change, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective can hold just as much power as years of experience. That’s why, every year, Prudential Emerging Visionaries celebrates young people for their innovative solutions to financial and societal challenges in their communities.

This national program awards 25 young leaders (ages 14-18) up to $15,000 to devote to their passion projects. Additionally, winners receive a trip to Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, where they receive coaching, skills development, and networking opportunities with mentors to help take their innovative solutions to the next level.

For 18-year-old Sydnie Collins, one of the 2023 winners, this meant being able to take her podcast, “Perfect Timing,” to the next level.

Since 2020, the Maryland-based teen has provided a safe platform that promotes youth positivity by giving young people the space to celebrate their achievements and combat mental health stigmas. The idea came during the height of Covid-19, when Collins recalled social media “becoming a dark space flooded with news,” which greatly affected her own anxiety and depression.

Knowing that she couldn’t be the only one feeling this way, “Perfect Timing” seemed like a valuable way to give back to her community. Over the course of 109 episodes, Collins has interviewed a wide range of guests—from other young influencers to celebrities, from innovators to nonprofit leaders—all to remind Gen Z that “their dreams are tangible.”

That mission statement has since evolved beyond creating inspiring content and has expanded to hosting events and speaking publicly at summits and workshops. One of Collins’ favorite moments so far has been raising $7,000 to take 200 underserved girls to see “The Little Mermaid” on its opening weekend, to “let them know they are enough” and that there’s an “older sister” in their corner.

Of course, as with most new projects, funding for “Perfect Timing” has come entirely out of Collins’ pocket. Thankfully, the funding she earned from being selected as a Prudential Emerging Visionary is going toward upgraded recording equipment, the support of expert producers, and skill-building classes to help her become a better host and public speaker. She’ll even be able to lease an office space that allows for a live audience.

Plus, after meeting with the 24 other Prudential Emerging Visionaries and her Prudential employee coach, who is helping her develop specific action steps to connect with her target audience, Collins has more confidence in a “grander path” for her work.

“I learned that my network could extend to multiple spaces beyond my realm of podcasting and journalism when industry leaders are willing to share their expertise, time, and financial support,” she told Upworthy. “It only takes one person to change, and two people to expand that change.”

Prudential Emerging Visionaries is currently seeking applicants for 2024. Winners may receive up to $15,000 in awards and an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters with a parent or guardian, as well as ongoing coaching and skills development to grow their projects.

If you or someone you know between the ages of 14 -18 not only displays a bold vision for the future but is taking action to bring that vision to life, click here to learn more. Applications are due by Nov. 2, 2023.
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