Pinehurst, a village nestled a few hours from Raleigh in the tall whispering pines and sandy hills of central North Carolina. Perhaps one of the world’s most famous locations for golf and once home to the famous golf architect, Donald Ross. Remember the picture of Payne Stewart sinking a putt on the 72 hole for victory at the 1999 United States Open Championship? Fist outstretched, screaming, and standing on one leg: An iconic memory at an iconic course in an iconic American village.
The streets of Pinehurst Village appear quiet and typically vacant a few hours after dark, but it’s not a sleepy town living in the quiet desperation of its quiet streets – it’s alive! The shops and restaurants are some of the best in the county, and behind the outwardly silent doors are places filled with friends and families eating and drinking together. The owners and workers at those venues have figured out one of life’s greatest secrets; aligning one’s vocation with one’s passion. As a guest in those restaurants, I’ve always loved reaping the benefits of that passion.
That’s where I was with 11 friends a short time ago. And right beside us – Larry David! The icon. The creator of Seinfeld himself. Now, let me make this clear before continuing: I’m not a star-struck type of guy. I respect privacy. This time, though, I had to say something. And, as I had hoped, the magic of the Pinehurst culture didn’t let me down. Small talk turned into conversation. Conversation turned into smiles. Smiles turned into laughter. Laughter turned into what felt like friendship. Our time together was brief but what I expected.
He was witty and somewhat sarcastic. Oftentimes I couldn’t tell if he was being truthful or pulling my leg. One minute he’d own up to the being Larry David and the next he’d claim to be a retired HR manager from CT. Regardless, he made me happy for the few moments we spent together, and I feel like I made him happy in that moment, too. That human connection, regardless of whether it’s made with celebrities or corporate managers, is surprisingly easy to achieve. In the chaos of our day-to-day lives, it’s also easy to forget how easy that is to find. Simple and random acts of kindness mean volumes to people. Be present and enjoy those around you. Talk to a stranger. It might be Larry David, or it might not. Either way, it doesn’t matter. In the end, it’s the smiles, the laughter, and the friendships that are important.
“It’s not life, but good life that should be valued” – Socrates