Brianna Walker

Twenty-three years ago, 25 seconds changed my future. It was May Day and I was in college, blissfully unaware of a new holiday about to be created. Class ended, and my boyfriend was waiting for me in the hallway.

I had no way of knowing that just minutes before, a would-be suitor had brought me flowers for May Day. But upon seeing my boyfriend in the hall, he never even slowed. He spent a long 25 seconds walking down that hallway, left campus, drove home and gave those flowers to his dad’s secretary.

Ten days later, my lab partner and I had just completed our last irrigations class of the year, and he suggested we get lunch to celebrate. I hadn’t quite finished my soup yet when he excused himself, presumably to use the restroom. He came back with yellow roses. Friendship roses, he assured me.

I remember mechanically spooning the soup to my mouth, and I’m sure I continued with small talk — but all I was thinking about was what my boyfriend was going to say about the flowers.

A year later, my lab partner and I met at the same little restaurant and ordered the same broccoli cheese soup in a sourdough bread bowl. He gave me another dozen yellow roses — only this time I didn’t have to worry about an upset boyfriend, as the guy sitting across the table from me had been promoted from lab partner to boyfriend.

That’s how the tradition of Brianna Day began — a holiday born out of a futile 25-second walk down a college hallway.

I was thinking recently about how sometimes the littlest amounts of time can make such a big difference in life. We often think it’s the big things, the big chunks of time that are the most important. They matter, too, no doubt. But sometimes those little interactions can make a big difference.

There is a lady at the local post office. She always greets you with a big smile, and makes that 25 seconds of interaction so positive that going to the post office becomes a pleasure instead of an errand.

I met a lady at the farmers market who also exudes such positivity that soon those 25 seconds added up to friendship. She became my son’s piano teacher, and now I can’t imagine life without her in it — all starting from 25 seconds.

Recently we were in the local building supply store, and the customer in front of us wanted an ad match on an item that was not eligible. He began by demanding the price, then belittling the clerk. Another clerk came to her assistance as the customer’s voice got louder and more heated. The manager was called about the time we moved to a new aisle.

We checked out, loaded up our concrete, and as we were driving away, I could still see him through the glass doors gesticulating wildly. I realize that’s much more than 25 seconds — but it most assuredly left its mark on all of those people.

It got me thinking about how we spend our time, and how important the minutes actually are. We each are given 1,440 minutes every day. How does the average American spend them?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on a typical weekday we spend:

• 1 hour, 8 minutes eating.

• 34 minutes for food prep.

• 2 hours, 36 minutes watching TV.

• 9 hours, 28 minutes sleeping.

• 4 hours, 27 minutes working.

• 5 hours on a smartphone.

Obviously, those averages weren’t taken from farm life or it would read something like 4 hours sleeping — unless it’s haying season, or calving season, or harvest, or …

For a farmer, it would look more like:

• 18 hours working — unless it’s haying season, or calving season, or harvest…

• 1 hour dealing with repairs or escaping animals.

• 1 hour of TV and eating — because you’re in the waiting area of the local tire shop eating popcorn.

But regardless of whose averages those statistics belong to, if we were to add them up (also allotting 2 minutes twice a day to brush your teeth), they will take up 1,397 minutes of your 1,440-minute day. That leaves you seven 25-second segments to change someone’s life.

What can you appreciate in this moment? How can you make the next 25-second encounter add to the enjoyment of someone’s life? It can be as simple as a compliment to the customer behind you in line (nice shoes, cute hair, polite kids) or as elaborate as taking flowers and a handwritten note to all of your neighbors.

And don’t worry if you missed the opportunity to take them flowers on May Day — from personal experience, May 11 is an even nicer day to receive flowers!