STADIUM PRETZEL LESSON

​What a Stadium Pretzel Taught Me About Kindness and Mindset

For over a decade, I had the absolute privilege of working Clemson football games - part of the behind-the-scenes rhythm that makes gameday what it is. It was a role I cherished. Recently, for the first time in ten years, I got to experience a game from a different perspective - not as an employee, but as a fan.

Let me tell you - it hit differently.

From the tailgates to the sea of orange and purple, the roar of “DEFENSE!” that practically shook the concrete beneath us, to the people-watching, the unspoken camaraderie among strangers - it was electric. I couldn’t help but smile. Not just because Clemson fans are next level, but because I was present, really present, soaking in every second.

And then… I met him.

Enter: The Young Fan With the Biggest Bucket of Popcorn I’ve Ever Seen

There was a boy sitting next to me - probably 12 or 13 years old. He was there alone, and I quickly gathered that his parents had Club seats just above us (super cool of them to give him the freedom to enjoy the game solo).

He wasn’t loud, and he wasn’t decked out in face paint or foam claws. He just… watched. Quietly, thoughtfully, smiling sometimes, and definitely side-eyeing my husband and our friends, who were fully committed to some loud fan antics.

At one point, someone handed him a small bag of candy. He lit up. And after halftime, he returned with arms full: a stadium-sized drink, a giant soft pretzel, and what I swear was the largest bucket of popcorn I'd ever seen.

But as he squeezed past me and sat down, I saw it happen - the pause. The oh-no-how-do-I-not-spill-everything moment.

So I offered. “Want me to hold your drink while you get settled?”

He hesitated, then said, “Yes, would you mind?”

I didn’t mind. Not at all.

He sat down, got himself sorted, took the drink from my hands, and with a small, sweet smile, said thank you.

And then… came the moment that still makes my heart smile.

“Miss, You Did a Real Nice Thing…”

A minute or two passed. We were back to watching the game, and I assumed that was that.

Then he turned toward me - just slightly - with a pinch of his pretzel in his fingers and said:

“Miss, you did a real nice thing by helping me. I’d like you to have a bite of this pretzel. I promise you - it’s the best you ever tasted.”

Now I’m not saying I cried, but I might’ve blinked a little longer than usual. 😄

I didn’t take the bite (though I was tempted!), but that simple gesture stuck with me. It still does.

Because what that young man showed wasn’t just manners or sweetness. It was emotional intelligence. It was gratitude. It was a mindset that too many adults struggle to access.

And it was 100% genuine.

The Mindset Behind a Pretzel

Life isn’t always made up of big, dramatic turning points. Most of the time, it’s these tiny moments - these quick interactions, small kindnesses, unexpected expressions of thanks that end up shaping us.

This kid could’ve ignored the help. Could’ve mumbled a thank you and moved on. Instead, he noticed, he acknowledged, and he gave something back - not because he had to, but because it felt right.

That’s not just politeness.

That’s mindset in action.

That’s emotional awareness. That’s gratitude. That’s what I mean as a coach when I talk about mastering your mindset and living from a place of awareness.

Emotional Intelligence: It's Not Just for Adults

Emotional intelligence isn’t about age, status, or titles. It’s about presence. It’s about noticing others, recognizing emotions - yours and theirs - and responding with intention.

This young man showed:

• Self-awareness: He knew he needed help, and he accepted it.
• Gratitude: He acknowledged it sincerely and personally.
• Empathy: He offered something back - not out of obligation, but connection.
• 
  

These are the same principles I teach my coaching clients every day - just wrapped up in a soft pretzel and a stadium seat.

Lessons From the Bleachers

There are so many directions this could go, but here’s what I walked away with:

• Kindness doesn’t have to be grand to be meaningful.
• Our smallest gestures can leave lasting imprints.
• Mindset is how we choose to show up.
• Gratitude, when expressed freely, has the power to soften and shift a moment.

That boy didn’t know he was modeling powerful life principles. But he was. And I couldn’t help but think: What if more of us moved through the world like that?

What if we looked for little ways to connect, to give back, to be present?

As a Coach, I talk a lot about how mindset is more than just thinking positively. It’s about learning how to live with awareness, make space for emotion, and choose actions that reflect who we want to be - even in the middle of chaos or popcorn spills.

That game reminded me that it doesn’t take a seminar or a workbook to teach mindset.

Sometimes it just takes one seatmate, one smile, one gesture of thanks.

Let Me Ask You This...

• When was the last time someone surprised you with their kindness?
• How often do you allow yourself to pause and notice the good in others?
• Are you moving too fast to recognize the small, beautiful moments around you?

A Gentle Challenge

This week, do something small, yet meaningful:

• Offer help
• Accept help
• Express genuine gratitude
• Compliment a stranger
• Share your "pretzel moment" with someone else

And watch what happens. I promise you… it will be the best thing you feel all week.

Have you ever had a “pretzel moment”? One of those unexpected encounters that made you smile from the inside out?

These are the stories that keep us going. And hey, they’re the heartbeat of

My Working Mind - where mindset meets real life.

Note: Some images in this post were generated using AI to visually represent the story and message.