Andy Grammer's 'mom hug' with a stranger is a beautiful reminder that we're all connected.
Many people chimed in to share similar stories of cosmic connections with strangers and stories of spreading kindness and love in honor of loved ones who have passed.
Singer Andy Grammer had a special connection with his mom who died of cancer nine years ago.
Grammer's beloved mother, Kathy, passed away from breast cancer in 2009, when Grammer was 25. He has written several songs dedicated to her, and he shares the wisdom he gleaned from his mama in his hit single "Give Love." Her death was an unexpected blow, and Grammer has talked openly about the difficult journey of coming to terms with her passing.
Years after her death, Grammer and his mom still share a special connection — one that made itself known while he was eating breakfast at a restaurant in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.
Grammer picked up the tab for some women who reminded him of his mom. But he didn't expect their response.
Was sitting at breakfast in Hampton Beach and across the restaurant were five SUPER CUTE elderly ladies. I don’t know...
Posted by Andy Grammer on Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Grammer wrote in a Facebook post that he saw "five SUPER CUTE elderly ladies" across the restaurant. "I don't know why but it made me miss my mom hard and I felt a strong urge to pick up their check. I don’t know them and didn’t want to bother them but I just did it."
"Then I was just gonna leave," he wrote, "cause a lot of times it’s better to just do nice deeds without asking for acknowledgment but something felt like I should tell them I missed my mom, like they might like to hear that. So I walked over and said 'you are five of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever seen, I lost my mom awhile back and something about seeing you made me miss her this morning so I’m getting your check.'"
As it turns out, one of the women had lost her son. And now we're all crying together.
"The lady on the end popped up with arms wide open and said 'COME HERE, I lost my son and really needed this.' And then she gave a mom hug I needed and I gave her a son hug she needed," Grammer wrote. Then he summarized the whole mysterious/cosmic/providential experience with a simple truth: "We are all so connected."
One of the moms, Mary Conant, commented on his Facebook post and said that the women "send our sincere appreciation to your for treating us to breakfast today at the Sea Ketch at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Sending you lots of hugs. Your mom sent you to us today."
The post received hundreds more comments, many from people sharing similar stories of cosmic connections with strangers and stories of spreading kindness and love in honor of loved ones who have passed.
What a beautiful reminder that we're all connected in ways we aren't even aware of.
Today is 9 years since my sweet mother left this world. I brought my little Louisiana K Grammer to her grave site this...
Posted by Andy Grammer on Wednesday, January 3, 2018
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.