Here’s something about me: I grew up as a shy and quiet kid. Of course, to my family and those who knew me well, I was your average 7-year old chatter box. But to anyone not in that circle, I was painfully quiet and did my best to dodge any kind of extra attention.

I would force my younger sister ask the store clerks where to find the restroom because if I asked them, they would know I was the one who had to pee. I would rather have died or peed in my skort (shout out to the 90’s) than ask on my own. Geez. That saintly sister of mine always went along with it because she’s a bold and brave soul. Moving mountains one restroom request at a time.

I don’t know what happened or where the turning point was, but I now find myself chatting with Every. Living. Creature. People at the grocery store, doctor’s office, gas station, airport, public restroom…no one is safe. And speaking of airports, I’m everyone’s worst nightmare on an airplane. I’m the reason those ridiculously large headphones (a.k.a. the international symbol for “I don’t want to talk”) exist.

Don’t get me wrong, I still turn a bright shade of pink and sweat an ungodly amount when I have the eyes of a crowd on me. That’s a different ballgame. I’m talking about the one-on-one, chatting it up in the candle aisle at Target sort of thing. That’s where I come alive.

That is my jam.

With this social switch also came a large dose of my father’s sense of humor–which is wonderful because he’s the funniest person on the planet (although, I’ve been told by my family that I’m the only one who votes him into that title). My husband is often rolling his eyes while I’m hysterically laughing because I just said the “wittiest thing ever.”

So there it is, I think I’m hilarious (even if my dad is the only one in agreement), and I’m constantly trying to fling that into conversations with complete and utter strangers.

Last night, after a long trip to Costco, I made a comment to the lady marking my receipt as I was leaving. I don’t even remember what I said or if I was even trying to get a laugh. I most certainly wasn’t using my best material.

She stopped me and said, “You’re funny. I like funny ladies. Thank you for being a funny lady!”

You guys, it encouraged me to my core.

The truth is, I’m really NOT that funny. Like on a scale of 1 to 10, I’m an iffy 1.25. I actually tend to teeter a little more toward obnoxious than humorous but I’m okay with it. However, the fact that that teeny, little Costco lady called me out–that she thanked me for being funny…it made my week.

And it got me thinking too.

With all of the random little convos I get myself into, I was encouraged to be one who calls people out like that. To say something kind when it comes to my mind. To see something in someone and thank them for it. Praying that big things can happen in these little things.

So thank you, Costco, for the splendid deals on apples, milk, and toilet paper. And an even bigger thank you for the encouraging life lesson wrapped up in a precious, little receipt checker.