With this feature, The Cullman Tribune is kicking off a special series highlighting everyday individuals all around Cullman County who make our community a great place. #IAmCullman
On a busy Thursday after Christmas, the Chevron station at 1701 Cherokee Ave. SW, Cullman had a steady flow of customers. All left feeling a little happier than when they arrived thanks to the contagious happiness passed on by Ravi Patel. The singing clerk is one of the amazing individuals who go above and beyond to make Cullman a great place.
“If I’m happy, they are happy,” Patel said.
As customers come inside, he greets each with a heartfelt hello and more often than not, Patel sings the greeting as well as the words exchanged during what some may view as another mundane transaction. With Patel, nothing is mundane.
He said, “Happy is a good medicine. You don’t have to find more medicine anywhere.”
Originally from India, Patel and his family wanted to get away from the congestion and moved to Nairobi.
“It was kind of scary there so we left,” he said. “We moved to Birmingham in 2004 after I married my wife.”
After several years in Birmingham, the Patels moved to Cullman just over a year ago from Cahaba Heights. They have two children who attend East Elementary and Cullman Middle School.
Patel said he maintains the same level of optimism in all aspects of life.
“My daughter is much like me,” he smiled. “She loves to laugh and is happy. She and I play hide and seek around our home. If you stay more happy, your health is improved and bad things are just gone.”
While his wife and children share his positive outlook, singing is Patel’s specialty.
“I like all kinds of music,” he said. “I listen to Christian and Hindu music. I grew up in Temple and I would go every weekend and still go to Temple every Sunday. I’m not much of a singer, but I can sing enough to make do.”
Patel smiled, “People ask me, ‘Are you taking any medicine or something? You’re always happy!’ I see the first customer come in kind of sleepy and I sing something and they say, “You made my day!’ They like it. You have bad mood, come here and I make it a good mood.”
Is there anything that brings Patel down? He admits paperwork can be a drag and he can feel the smile fading, but then a customer will come in the store. The personal interactions provide the boost needed to energize his mood.
“I’m not much of a multitasker,” he said. “I prefer focusing on my customers.”
During down times, Patel uses the one step behind the counter as an exercise opportunity.
His advice: “When you wake up, exercise is the best thing to change your mind to be positive. In here, I do steps and push-ups and crunches. That’s energy you need to be happy.”
Other sources of inspiration for Patel are reading and studying.
He said, “I read the Bible and I read Bhagavad Gita. It’s a holy book and it’s good. Opinion, everyone has different, but it’s really the same. People argue if the glass is full or half empty, but the truth is there is water in the glass.”
Patel’s mission in life is to bring good and do good. By simply singing a few words to each customer, he brings smiles and laughter to countless people. Many times, the customers respond in song.
“It’s a mindset,” he said. “You have to give your mind the good and it will get rid of bad. Happiness is a good habit.”
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