trying best I can
I went to Starbucks this morning - first and only one there as they opened the shop at 5am.
The baristas have their routine of welcoming people and asking about our day
but for some reason this morning I was
not able to be as pleasant as I'd like to be. When I lived in Canada and I talked to others at times about
having had a difficult interaction with someone - some of the wisdom I heard back is 'that some people
have a hard time being nice.' It's probably the kind of compassion I should give to myself - hoping
that I didn't upset the barista too much my shortness or inability.
I am sure he is processing his own day of stuff - and busy with work.
Anyways the connections for me are so few and far between that I am still thinking about this.
I'll let it pass and maybe closer to Christmas I will give him a $20 tip.
That'll be my community service. I bought presents for my family and then I'll do
one bit of community outreach.
Replies
I bet you were just fine and since it was early, I’m sure Starbucks baristas are well seasoned at knowing people are tired before their early morning coffee!
Hope you have a good day.
thanks Nikki!
Mark, I just 'can't vision' you being impolite....in any case, this is how 'you are feeling'....perhaps the barista was not at his best, and maybe you "felt" some of his negativity? We all do the best we can...what a kind gesture to give him a gift :) Enjoy your walk!
thanks Mary Louise!
I went back and gave Ethan (the barista wh0 helps me) $20 and thanked him. He was psyched. :)
During my food service years, I had several similar experiences with customers who were terse with me and later came back to make amends. Those particular customers probably taught me more about tolerance and the chain reactive value of making amends than all my psychotherapy together. Pat yourself on the back for having made the world a better place with that one community service.
That said. . .
I, too, have a hard time imagining your meanest being meaner than my sweetest sugar and spice. However, I have gotten sweeter since I started studying on how to be more gentle with myself. Ya can't give what you don't have to give. As long as I was intolerant of my own self, I didn't have allot of tolerance to give. When I can love myself, I have plenty of love to give my neighbors.
thanks arfie!