I wrote this just after Christmas, when I went into a local department store to make a return for my mom. I remembered it today, and now that I have a blog I'd like to share it. :)
1/6/16
Today I was in a very busy mall department store, and everyone was confused. The two checkout stations were located in a circular counter, each one on opposing sides. The store employees were doing a decent job, but the three people working within the circle counter were, quite simply, overwhelmed. There were people of all ages, races, economic backgrounds, and varying degrees of patience wanting to purchase, exchange, and find merchandise.
The checkout line wasn't clearly marked, and let's just say people diametrically opposed in every one of the aforementioned categories intersected, and it wasn't pretty. In the midst of this chaos I calmly observed my surroundings, even when I had to change lines after already waiting in the wrong one for 10 minutes, then having a group inadvertently cut in front of me. I was just going to let them go ahead of me, but someone ahead of me noticed and rudely informed them what they’d done. Then, I was caught in the uncomfortable social situation of having both parties express to me quietly how disgusted they were with each other’s "attitudes," both assuming I’d take their side in the matter!
I’d already observed both these parties before I got caught in the middle, and both seemed nice and pleasant before that moment that brought out the meanness. And oh, every sad stereotype about age, race, and economic background were displayed in all their ugliness in these few quiet comments to me. I realized the sad fact: people lately just seem to assume the worst about others.
I've worked retail for years as a Manager, so maintaining patience and compassion for really rude behavior has been a challenge at times. But you know, I've learned it sure does help to just chill and smile sincerely- and stop and try to put yourself in the other persons shoes for a second. And don’t assume the worst! Don’t get run over by rudeness, but remember how you might have acted the day something horribly sad happened to you? Or how you might have been a bit oblivious and over-exhuberant the day something amazing happened, too?
Even if someone is upset with you and you don't even know why, forgive. When a comment comes out rudely stop before you assume anything. Maybe they are sick, lost their job, dealing with family issues? Forgive. Let it go. Someone cut you off on the freeway? Don't honk and make them feel worse; haven't you almost wrecked someone yourself before and shuddered and felt awful, especially when they honked and gave you an ugly stare, or worse the middle Finger?
The young guys who cut me off in the department store? They were oblivious and having a jolly day, and just didn't notice me. They mature lady ahead of me was in a hurry and wanted to help me out, in case I was, too. I'll not even mention the race and economic statuses involved here- and you get a pretty good picture of the situation. Nobody did anything wrong, and yet they assumed bad attitudes and bad behaviors.
Like I said in the beginning: Stop assuming the worst of others! Be the person who makes the grumpy person smile, the sad person laugh, and the angry person slow down.