It starts with a smile and hello

I had just gotten off the metro in the airport in Paris, when I had realized I was at the wrong terminal. In my panic, I rushed to the information desk to ask for directions. When I got there, an elderly gentleman of African descent was manning the desk. I went up to him and said, "hi, can you tell me how I can get to Terminal 1?"

He looked at me and smiled, then said, "Bonjour".

Confused, I repeated my question with my hand gesturing towards the direction of the buses nearby, and said, "Is this the where I take the buses to Terminal 1?"

Again, he smiled pleasantly, and said, "Bonjour, Monsieur."

I looked into his eyes, they were as if they were smiling at me too. I then realized what he was trying to tell me. I smiled back, then, said, "Bonjour."

I could tell he was amused how my panic had subsided and his smile sort of reassured me, all was going to be OK.

"Those are the buses that go to Terminal 1. Have a safe journey," he assured me, pointing to the same buses I was pointing to earlier.

"Merci," I said, and waved goodbye. I looked back as I was heading to the buses, and he waved goodbye to me as well. I got on the bus, and felt great. Somehow, this guy cheered me up with a simple smile and hello.

Funny. I never realized that sometimes, with all the rush and stress we face each day, a simple smile and "hello", goes a long, long way.