The Icing on the Cake

Bettina Banayan said New Yorkers are in peoples’ personal space everyday—especially on the subway. She wanted to make that experience a little more palatable.

She baked a cake and took it on the subway with her. She found a seat, donned her sterile gloves, removed the cake from the container and began frosting it as the subway bumped and lurched through the city. Bettina even trimmed the top with a decorative, scalloped white icing. I’m sure people have seen a lot of things on the subway, but had probably never watched someone put icing on a cake.

When she finished, she asked if anyone wanted a piece of cake and said, “I have plates and forks.” One brave soul finally said he would like a slice and then a few others chimed in. Someone asked if she worked in a bakery. She said, “Not yet, but maybe one day. I’m in culinary school now.” Even the skeptics began to smile as she passed around her homemade cake. Watch the video by clicking here.

This idea inspired me to make someone’s day a little better. A former co-worker was let go from his job recently. He worked hard, but the organization’s leadership did not recognize and appreciate all that he did.

Today’s gift was to send him an encouraging card. In it I wrote that many people would miss his contribution to the organization. I know that he will find a new position where he is appreciated for his strong work ethic and specialized knowledge; that will be the icing on the cake.

In Giving,

Robin