Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Sick of seeing it...

Do you ever have it happen where one of those quote images goes "viral" on your newsfeed?  Sometimes I think it is cute or makes people feel good and everyone wants to share it.  Sometimes it is just too funny not to share, even if you can't really relate.  And sometimes, well sometimes we are trying to get a message across with the images we choose to click "share" on.

But what message are people trying to send with this one?


I'm a benefit of the doubt kind of girl.  So I'm going to guess they are talking about apologizing for something you've done wrong.  Maybe it is just my personal past and experiences that cause this quote to raise the hairs on the back of my neck.

When I read that first line I think the opposite of brave.  The word "doormat" comes to my mind.  Maybe it is because I have spent too much of my past apologizing for things I haven't done to keep the peace.  I refuse to apologize for things I haven't done. I refuse to apologize for things I haven't said.  I refuse to apologize because you want to play the victim and try to twist my words into making you one.  I refuse to apologize for having an adult, rational conversation where I state my feelings and interpretations of your behavior.  I refuse to apologize for standing up for what I believe in, my family, or myself.

The second line makes me cringe.  Forgiveness is earned.  It has to be or doormat comes into play again.  If you keep forgiving someone for making the same mistake over and over, where does that put you? Sorry doesn't mean anything when the behavior doesn't change.  It's pretty simple, sometimes "sorry" doesn't cut it.  Have you read the story of the boy and the nails in a fence?  If you haven't, you should:


The third line... well, forgetting is good.  Not letting others controlling your future happiness is awesome.  But... don't forget it all.  Make sure you don't make the same mistakes twice.  That is key.


Monday, April 7, 2014

Tip Your Server Asshole

Sorry for the language, but I've warned you all once and I'm warning you again.  Tip your server.

Here's the reason why this comes to mind.  This past weekend, on Saturday we experienced a rush of traffic at the Village.  At the time that my one table became frustrated with me I was waiting on a 7, 2, 2, 4 and 12.  My table became frustrated that their food was taking so long.  I went to check on their food and realized to my horror, that I had not submitted their order.  I just don't do that kind of thing.  Man, I was disappointed with myself.  I quickly conferred with the cook, she put their food in immediately and promised me it would be 7 minutes.  Not 10, 7 minutes.

In abject dismay, with my tail between my legs I went back to the table and began apologizing profusely.  Both customers were livid.  And let me know it.  And let me have it.  I offered to buy them pie, ice cream, a gift certificate, and they were having none of it.  The lady exclaimed they had had a horrible dining experience and would never be back.  The husband said, "now wait a minute, we'll take her gift certificate".  And she shook her head, waved her finger at me and made some other remark.  But you know... have you ever had that moment? That moment where everything just piles on and some unfortunate person pushes you past that breaking point?  I never even heard her last scathing remark because I burst into tears and fled to the kitchen.

I was mortified.  Do you know how many years I have been serving? I can honestly not recall another time when I have let someone get to me.  And there have been several over the years.  Heck there was one the previous evening who was not a happy camper because I had let them come in and served them after we were already closed.  How dare I!?  (That table, the girlfriend came back to the restaurant as we were cleaning up, knocked on the locked door, gave me a tip and apologized for her boyfriend who was a "stupid jackass".  Thanks lady!) But even that table didn't get to me and I let this one lady dissolve me into tears.  I'm blaming lack of sleep and life just finally getting me down.

On a happy note, my 12 top that was seated next door must have felt bad for me because they tipped me very well and more than made up for the lack of tip from my elderly couple.  And my boss and coworkers absolutely had my back and took it upon themselves to take care of the table until my angry customers had paid and left.  So, really, this isn't a feel sorry for Melissa type of blog entry.

My point is this.  That lady was only concerned about her service.  She viewed dining as a methodical, clockwork experience with no room for error.  She did not remember that servers, cooks, bus staff, kitchen staff, etc... are all human beings and that there is room for human error.  She did not remember that all of us have lives too.  That no matter how hard we try, some of that baggage from our personal lives follows us to work.  We are not professional actors and actresses.  We do our best, but sometimes...  I used to be like her.  And worse, I thought of myself as an expert because I had been a server so I knew what good service looked like.  But now I know differently.

Now when my server is forgetful or not cheery, I remind myself that I don't know what is going on in her life.  Maybe a family member is terribly ill and she/he can't stop worrying about them.  Maybe she's down to her last dime and trying to figure out how to put food on the table (no pun intended).  Maybe she is going through some type of illness or legal battle herself/himself.  Maybe this is their second or third job and they are entering their 40th, 50th, 60th hour of work for the week.  Maybe her kids are hurting mentally or physically and she's worrying about them.  Maybe she is trying to pay her way through college and gets little time for sleep, and has a test in the morning.  Maybe she overslept.  Maybe she hasn't eaten.  Maybe she is fighting the flu.  Maybe... maybe...maybe.... do you get my point?

Tip your damn server. Or if you're not going to, because you don't feel the need to, then let us know when we arrive at your table.  Save us the trouble of faking that smile, holding back the tears, pretending that the only thing we have to worry about is your favorite dressing on the side.



And LASTLY - All servers start reading here: http://ifyoucantaffordtotip.com/day-life-server-part-1/  And don't stop until you get to the last installment.  Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to not die laughing before you finish.

If you're struggling and you know it clap your hands...

Yep, you can thank me for getting that tune stuck in your head.  You're welcome.  Glad I could help.

Haven't we all had those days.  For whatever reason?  Where we just wish we could pull the blankets up over our heads and stay in bed.  And maybe, even feel sorry for ourselves a little?  There are so many suck it up, put on your big girl panties, pull yourself up by your bootstraps kind of quotes out there.  Where is the one that says, "It's okay to be a human and just have a crappy day once in a while".  To feel sad is human, to grieve is human, to want to give up is human.  Why must we feel be made to feel weak if we just let ourselves have a minute, an hour, or a day?

Sigh.  I think we need to remember the following.


And we need to stop judging.  We need to stop saying, "don't let that bother you" or "that isn't a big deal".  Because to that person it is a big deal and by saying, "don't let that bother you" you're saying that their feelings aren't legitimate.  And they are.  What isn't a big deal to you, might be a huge deal to them.  Let them find their peace with it and move on.  Support them.  Empathize, sympathize or shut the hell up.  

To all my friends who are struggling, I'm here for you.  I will let you vent, cry, complain, and then I will help you.  I will help you realize the following:


And then I will remind you to do the following:


And lastly, I'll do my best to make you smile.