Mike saw that the cute barista who had smiled at him, and filled up his to-go coffee cup, had also drawn a little heart next to where she had written his name. This small gesture led to what became an almost daily ritual of stopping by her counter on the way to his office and purchasing a small heart on a to-go cup filled with coffee.

After a few days of these early morning visits, Mike noticed that the stranger in front of him in line picked up a cup signed “Dave ❤️” – an observation which led to a marked decrease in his morning caffeine intake thereafter.

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It is amazing how small gestures can sometimes redirect behavior in large ways. It is also amazing how much it can sting to realize that a small gesture is, in fact, small.