A simple gesture that can go a long way. I was raised up to say thank you, whether it was for a gift from a loved one, for a Christmas card from a distant relative, for a phone call from a friend who happened to ring just when I needed it the most, to the salesperson in the department store or to the farmer at the market. And I think December is as good a time as any other time of year to acknowledge this. But maybe this month makes us reflect more about the little things, which we sometimes take for granted or don’t give the value they deserve. Yes, it’s important to say thank you to your significant other for helping out at the house chores or for a delicious home-made dinner. Of course the gesture goes both ways.
As the holiday season is in full swing, I can not help thinking about the people working in the retail business. In our rush for Christmas presents we should remember to express our appreciation for their services. And as long as we’re on the subject, I’d like to add that given the fact that shopping this time of year can often result in long lines at the pay desk, I think it is a matter of respect to the other fellow shoppers to keep calm, refrain from shaking our heads and give nasty looks if this takes too long. Nobody likes it and be certain that you’re not the only one who has other urgent things to do. Always say thank you to the person behind the counter and do it with a warm smile even if you’ve had a bad day, it can count for a lot. One of the things that I hate the most is seeing people looking down at the salespersons in shops. Every honest job is important and worthy of your respect.
And the next time you have a nice hot cup of coffee and enjoy a cosy moment in your favourite café, where you order at the counter and are not waited on, therefore you don’t have to leave a tip for extra services, do clean up your table and take your empty cup when you leave to the designated spot for used dishes or make use of the recycling bins. The people working there will thank you.
photo by me
Many years ago I worked in a bookshop in Iceland and even though the hours in December were crazy, it was such a fun month. Looking back, I don’t remember a single rude person. We offered gift wrapping service and it was very rewarding to see people leave the store with a big smile.
Thank you for your inspiring blog ; – )
Oh, I love shops which offer gift wrapping service! I think every store should offer that, especially in December – I do believe that a beautiful package counts just as much as what’s inside. And, yes, I always leave with a big smile on my face. Thank you for your kind words, Lisa.
It is an interesting reflection. Ada. Thank you very much for sharing.
I love your thoughts on the subject.
i love this ada. it’s so true, we can and should choose patience and kindness any and all times we can (and most all of the time we can). there is nothing that turns me off more than people who take out their daily annoyances, anger, hostility or general bad attitude on people who work in the service industry. even if something goes wrong you can be respectful about righting it. it’s a hard job serving people all day, i have done it in the past – one of the hardest jobs i have ever had. xx
I couldn’t have said it better myself. I really dislike it when people are impolite and don’t say thank you to the people who serve them. Luckily, living in London, i don’t encounter such rudness so often. I also make a point to always say thank you to the bus driver as i get on the bus. A simple smile and a thank you go a long way.
Have a lovely rest of the week.
Red
Red, I really think that what you’ve just said is irrelevant. I didn’t say I encounter this rudeness often, but it’s happened, and not only in Bucharest, but in Berlin, Rome and London too. No matter where we live, these little mean things happen every day. But because you’ve brought up London, comparing some of the stores and coffee shops there to some in Bucharest, I would say that Romanian customers are more thoughtful about how they treat the salespersons. For example, I often see people putting the things they have tried on back on hangers and even back on the racks, trying to avoid leaving a mess behind them. I’ve often seen much worse in London.
The holidays are definitely a time to remember to be kind and courteous and when we realize how easy it is, we should just continue doing it all year long.
Rowena @ rolala loves
What you say in this post is so true, Ada. Especially during the festive season.
xxxx
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