Join & Connect

Imagine the scenario: you’re heading out the door, rushing to catch the tube to London Victoria station, where you plan to jump on the express train to Gatwick. You’re heading home to Spain to see your family and friends for the first time in two years… Going on holiday is such an adrenaline rush, particularly when you’re squeezed for both time and money. Passport, ticket, keys... who hasn’t gone through that mental check list a million times?

Only you get to the train station, and there it isn’t… your bank card. That one thing you did leave behind. And the thought of buying the train ticket currently standing between you and the flight taking off in a little over two hours, just disappeared like a puff of smoke… taking your happy holiday plans along with it.

This is exactly the situation my friend Miguel found himself in the last time he was on his way to visit his home town of Valencia. Panic-stricken, he called his older brother in Spain to explain what had happened and that he feared he wasn’t going to make the trip after all. As he steeled himself against the reality that he would have to return home with the chances of making it back to the airport in time diminishing, a woman tapped his shoulder. She was English but by chance had overheard, and understood, his Spanish phone conversation.

“How much do you need for your train ticket?”, she asked. A quick exchange of information and one ticket purchase later, Miguel could barely contain his ecstatic relief – he was on his way again. “But how can I get the money back to you?”, he asked the stranger. He wasn’t to worry about that, she told him: “Just pay it forward…”.

I’ve always loved the idea that kindness and gratitude can be traded like commodities. Someone does you a good turn? Offer one of your own when you can and that’s your debt repaid in full.

This week, gratitude is very much on the agenda in homes across America, as the country prepares to celebrate one of its most popular and important holidays – Thanksgiving. The celebration, although a perfect excuse to eat, drink and be merry, also serves to kick start the festive season.

It’s often said that the happiest people are the ones who are, quite simply, grateful. And with that in mind, we’re looking forward to our festive season celebration event with the theme: “Make Someone Happy”. So if you’d like to tell us what, or who, you’re thankful for this year, join us to help spread some seasonal Alchemy, Hub Dot style… Head over to our website to register. We’ll see you there!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends in the USA!