My kids had a lemonade stand the other day, and I watched from the porch. It struck me how people reacted when encountering the kids. Some of our neighbors drove by, and didn’t even acknowledge them. Many others, however, often complete strangers, stopped to engage the kids, and buy their product. One woman even handed a $20 bill, and said keep the change.

It reminded me of the movie Phenomenon where John Travolta played a man from a small town named George Malley. George developed a tumor that stimulated dormant parts of his brain, and offered him great insight into the world.

George had a friend, named Lace, who made rocking chairs out of twigs. Lace poured her heart and soul into the chairs, but no one was buying them. Gradually, however, they began to sell, and she sold them all.

One day George’s friend, Doc, walked into George’s garage, and noticed a pile twig rocking chairs in the corner. Doc asked George why he had all of the chairs, but George just changed the subject.

George died of the brain tumor, and after his death some of the locals began talking about the George’s strange behavior and what a nut he was. Doc interrupted, and angrily said: “You guys don’t have a clue – George knew how to treat people. He knew what made them tic . . . . George bought the chairs. Have you ever bought anyone’s chairs?”

Whether its lemonade, twig chairs, positivity, insight, a smile or something else, we all have something unique to offer the world. People want to be heard and have their uniqueness acknowledged. When we pay attention to what is important to others and acknowledge their unique gifts, we buy their chairs.

It doesn’t take much (mostly just time and attention), but how often are we buying others’ chairs?

Timothy Velner is a husband, father, attorney and author living in Minneapolis. You can follow his daily blog – a series of discussions between the worry-self and the present-self at – thespiritualgym.me