I learned from a friend how much nicer it sounds when someone says “I appreciate you” instead of “I appreciate it”. I use it all the time now and people are always pleasantly surprised.
I like number 13. I work for an airline. I won’t mention which one or in what role, just to say when things go wrong we don’t do it on purpose. Aviation is complex. 100 years ago flight was not possible for the vast majority of people on Earth. Now we take it for granted.
Maybe I can add a number 18 then? Be amazed at the miracle of flight ✈️
When I’m asked to wait, and especially when the server apologizes, I just tell them it’s okay and that unless and until I’m the only other person on the planet, they need not worry. It’s truly okay that I cannot not always be instantaneously helped.
When you find yourself getting irritated with the old woman driving so slowly in front of you, remember that could be your mother and it definitely will be you someday!
I love this. Thank you so much. During the pandemic in the grocery line, I’d act like I couldn’t make up my mind and then I’d ask the cashier what their favorite candy bar was and then add it to my order for them - it was such a good feeling ! I need to resume that - times are still tough.
About 10 years ago, I was on a business trip, travelling through Chicago. The flight was delayed, delayed again, then cancelled. I was sitting with other unfortunates in a restaurant/bar and had struck up a conversation with a very personable couple. When the cancellation was announced, the man asked what I was going to do. "Lie on the floor near the gate," I responded. His response?
"You can't do that! I have a company here in Chicago, and we often hold seminars in a local hotel. I am going to get you a cab, which will take you to that hotel. This is on me." Angels among us.
I manage a medical office and the other day a patient thanked us and told us how awesome we are. I almost burst into tears. I had my own doctor's visit today and made a point of paying that forward. A nice conversation with the receptionist while you are waiting for your insurance to clear goes a long way toward making someone's day less sh*tty. Love to all!
I love these. Especially number 4, my beautiful sister (with autism and disabilities) has called people by their name badges for as long as I can remember. She asks if they don’t have a badge. She is my teacher.
I remember when I was younger and had a service job. When things went wrong, it was usually something beyond my control. When there’s a problem now, I treat the other person like a person, not my slave, and talk to them about how we could cooperate to make things better. If there’s nothing we can do about it, we can commiserate.
I appreciate number 4 but as someone who has their name out there, sometimes a person repeating my name makes me worried that they are committing it to memory so that they can complain about me! Probably a trauma response...
Retail worker last 7 yrs here. I felt "exposed" by my name tag & having strangers use my given name. Due to the length of my hair, I was nicknamed by a customer after a well known character in a popular fairy tale remake. I had a lot of fun w/it. Adults asked me if it was my "real name" & I responded "my parents were very unique", which was quite true-mom & dad were in a class by themselves. But the best part of my "work name" was meeting the little ones transfixed by meeting "a real live princess", & answering their questions. Upon getting to "know" my "regulars", I would properly introduce myself. Beautiful interactions w/my customers resulted as we encountered each other day by day.
At the outset of my retail job,
I had prayed to "learn to love my neighbor" & also for a return to my "glam" job in management. Our Creator knew how to answer that prayer-by leaving retail as my only option for awhile, (I was NOT happy, lol) where I learned to grow in the 2nd clause of the greatest commandment! I learned/am learning what humility really means from "the program's (AA/NA)" perspective on that job!
Now I do manage a small store but also work the counter finding a lot of enjoyment in serving my customers.
Final thought: a lot of us are so disconnected from one another due to our "screen lives". We retail workers can really serve our fellow travelers in life w/genuine, caring interaction, breaking up the isolation many of us feel in these crazy times.
Thank you for letting me share my experience & God bless you all!
Yes, when my daughter had a part-time job in retail, she didn't really like customers using her name - it can be a bit presumptuous, though probably OK if giving compliments. 🙂
I have tried to make it a personal practice to tip waiters and waitresses 25-30 percent....when my service is crappy. And, I'll write a note on the receipt to let them know I hope their evening/day gets better.
I learned from a friend how much nicer it sounds when someone says “I appreciate you” instead of “I appreciate it”. I use it all the time now and people are always pleasantly surprised.
One of MANY lessons from Ted Lasso!
I like number 13. I work for an airline. I won’t mention which one or in what role, just to say when things go wrong we don’t do it on purpose. Aviation is complex. 100 years ago flight was not possible for the vast majority of people on Earth. Now we take it for granted.
Maybe I can add a number 18 then? Be amazed at the miracle of flight ✈️
When I’m asked to wait, and especially when the server apologizes, I just tell them it’s okay and that unless and until I’m the only other person on the planet, they need not worry. It’s truly okay that I cannot not always be instantaneously helped.
When you find yourself getting irritated with the old woman driving so slowly in front of you, remember that could be your mother and it definitely will be you someday!
I love this. Thank you so much. During the pandemic in the grocery line, I’d act like I couldn’t make up my mind and then I’d ask the cashier what their favorite candy bar was and then add it to my order for them - it was such a good feeling ! I need to resume that - times are still tough.
magical.
About 10 years ago, I was on a business trip, travelling through Chicago. The flight was delayed, delayed again, then cancelled. I was sitting with other unfortunates in a restaurant/bar and had struck up a conversation with a very personable couple. When the cancellation was announced, the man asked what I was going to do. "Lie on the floor near the gate," I responded. His response?
"You can't do that! I have a company here in Chicago, and we often hold seminars in a local hotel. I am going to get you a cab, which will take you to that hotel. This is on me." Angels among us.
I manage a medical office and the other day a patient thanked us and told us how awesome we are. I almost burst into tears. I had my own doctor's visit today and made a point of paying that forward. A nice conversation with the receptionist while you are waiting for your insurance to clear goes a long way toward making someone's day less sh*tty. Love to all!
I love these. Especially number 4, my beautiful sister (with autism and disabilities) has called people by their name badges for as long as I can remember. She asks if they don’t have a badge. She is my teacher.
When I return home, I think of something positive behind the negative experience and draw it. Stopping words helps.
Makes me feel better about the world to hear from people being kind in the face of unpleasant circumstances!
I remember when I was younger and had a service job. When things went wrong, it was usually something beyond my control. When there’s a problem now, I treat the other person like a person, not my slave, and talk to them about how we could cooperate to make things better. If there’s nothing we can do about it, we can commiserate.
I appreciate number 4 but as someone who has their name out there, sometimes a person repeating my name makes me worried that they are committing it to memory so that they can complain about me! Probably a trauma response...
Great tips all around though!
Retail worker last 7 yrs here. I felt "exposed" by my name tag & having strangers use my given name. Due to the length of my hair, I was nicknamed by a customer after a well known character in a popular fairy tale remake. I had a lot of fun w/it. Adults asked me if it was my "real name" & I responded "my parents were very unique", which was quite true-mom & dad were in a class by themselves. But the best part of my "work name" was meeting the little ones transfixed by meeting "a real live princess", & answering their questions. Upon getting to "know" my "regulars", I would properly introduce myself. Beautiful interactions w/my customers resulted as we encountered each other day by day.
At the outset of my retail job,
I had prayed to "learn to love my neighbor" & also for a return to my "glam" job in management. Our Creator knew how to answer that prayer-by leaving retail as my only option for awhile, (I was NOT happy, lol) where I learned to grow in the 2nd clause of the greatest commandment! I learned/am learning what humility really means from "the program's (AA/NA)" perspective on that job!
Now I do manage a small store but also work the counter finding a lot of enjoyment in serving my customers.
Final thought: a lot of us are so disconnected from one another due to our "screen lives". We retail workers can really serve our fellow travelers in life w/genuine, caring interaction, breaking up the isolation many of us feel in these crazy times.
Thank you for letting me share my experience & God bless you all!
Yes, when my daughter had a part-time job in retail, she didn't really like customers using her name - it can be a bit presumptuous, though probably OK if giving compliments. 🙂
Nadia, see what you inspired with this post.
https://um-insight.net/perspectives/some-ways-to-cope-when-the-umc-division-turns-nasty/
Love, Cynthia Astle
I have tried to make it a personal practice to tip waiters and waitresses 25-30 percent....when my service is crappy. And, I'll write a note on the receipt to let them know I hope their evening/day gets better.