So as you can imagine, I've held a couple odd jobs in my lifetime. Interestingly enough, they all center around customer service. In addition to being extremely extroverted, I find that to be the types of jobs writers gravitate towards. Whether it's because we'll take anything we can get, or hope for the aforementioned quirky story prompt, who knows. Perhaps it could be both. I'm sure the time I found a used condom in a man's pocket while working at the dry cleaners will come in handy someday. Or the weed in a rented tux ..... Anyways, I was dwelling upon this subject the other day and had a few thoughts I'd like to share.
Let's step back and take a quick look at my career path. It's not really a career path, given I've worked at a total of four places, but it's the first few steps at least. During high school, I worked at the local dry cleaners and a party rental store. During college, I worked retail and am currently working as a custodian. I think it wise to withhold certain specifics; not that my experiences were negative, but it's best to avoid hurting feelings just in case. So back to customer service ....
I hate customer service....
With that out of the way, I'll get right to it. When did people suddenly see themselves above everyone else? Am I missing something here? Are people born right onto the pedestal or is it something gifted to them in the preK?
Allow me to elaborate.
I'm sure my feelings wouldn't be quite so bitter if it weren't for my current job. I've been cleaning as a janitor at the college for a year and a half now. My benefits are awesome and a fair amount of my coworkers are the bees knees. However, when it comes time to actually working with the students and professors on campus, I try to avoid them as much as possible. Given that just last week a professor walked by me, turned my way, and practically grunted at me before walking on, I'd say my feelings are fairly justified. Plus, if I came in contact with some of those students, it would be hard to resist giving them the chastisement they seem to have forgotten or never received as a child. If I have to pick up your used tissues off the floor, sweep up half eaten mints, and clean up after your toilet paper confetti party, that blurs the lines between janitor and babysitter. Not to mention the dripping wet paper towels on the bathroom floor I can only hope to be filled with water.
Maybe one day I'll have a job so important I won't have to pick up my used staples and paper clips off the floor....
... but wait ... that'll never happen because I'm not that shitty of a person.
Why is it that when it comes to customer service, social graces are no longer applicable? Hell, with some people, social grace is never applicable. While discussing this with my roommate, she said she felt the same way living at the college dorms. Every time she ate in the cafeteria, she would thank the cook and the dishwasher for their service, only to have another student say, "why do you thank them? It's their job." A teacher at my school told me of a similar experience. When asking one of her students to clean up after his doughnut and orange juice mess, he replied with, "why do I have to do it? It's not my job. That's for some else to clean up." Luckily we were good friends and she was also very kind. Sounds like she gave him a piece of her mind.
Perhaps you've heard the dating advice, "if he's not nice to the waiter, he's not nice?" Well, I feel this applies to all of us. A little kindness goes a long way. Despite someone's job title, appearance, religion, whatever, everyone is an important and vital part of our society. There is no reason for you to be rude to someone. None. Zero. And if you think you've found one, look into yourself and figure out why you feel the need to throw someone down.
We all have insecurities. And I understand that sometimes these insecurities exhibit themselves in certain ways. We also all have bad days, and sometimes it is hard to be patient with the overly perky attendant at the drive through. Try to be understanding and considerate. Yes, your waitress might be slow and seems to be making a lot of mistakes, but what if this was her second shift of the day because rent is due and she's trying to make ends meet? While her husband is away in the military? Or her son is away at college? You never know. And you never know how hurtful your negativity can be to someone just trying to make a living.
I know that I struggle with the opposite of this situation. When I feel people attacking or belittling me, I become angry and upset. Rarely do I attempt at understanding the opposite party and their feelings. And I know this is wrong. If someone has mistreated you, try to understand as best you can that they're fighting a hard battle too.
I hate to sound like a hippie (it was bound to happen after the day I found free weed.... kidding) but I feel like if everyone could be more kind and compassionate, many of our problems would solve themselves. When I worked at the dry cleaners, nothing delighted me more than when a certain older gentleman would come in to pick up his cleaning. He would say please and thank you. He would call me m'am. He would often ask me about my day or how I was doing. Without being intrusive, he was caring and polite and his attitude has stayed with me ever since.
I know manners exist out there somewhere. I know kindness is not a dying art and chivalry is still being practiced by the loyal few. A smile and a simple hello can easily brighten somebody's day. Try your best to be kind and considerate. Play nice in the sandbox. Love on another.
Cheers, and be well.
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