I bonded with a little old lady at the bank the other day over how our customer service jobs have caused us to dislike people in general.
One of the responsibilities of my day job is to visit the bank a couple of times a week to make some deposits, and there is something about bonding with other customer service workers, people who can tell the difference between a genuine smile and the fake, “How can I help you?” type of smile (you know, in a time before masks).
(Actually, a pro to wearing masks is not having to fake such a smile. No one can see your grimace from behind the mask while an irate customer is demanding that they are correct about something or another. But I digress.)
Aside from the teller—who is becoming a good friend partly due to us swapping ridiculous customer stories while I make my deposits—this little old lady was chatting with me while the teller helped her about how tiring customer service can be. It was endearing to hear this woman all fired up about rude people before heaving a sigh.
“You know,” she said, “my mother could never understand why I enjoyed days to do nothing. If I have a couple of days off, one of the days I need to allow myself to do nothing. I’ll do my laundry and errands the next day, but I need to decompress.”
She was thrilled the teller and I agreed with her wholeheartedly. After her transactions were done, she bid us a good day and thanked us for being such pleasant people.
Considering later that day I had to argue with a customer about wearing a mask in our public office, this woman’s kind words and cheerful demeanor stuck with me.
It was simple to agree with her idea of a day to do nothing, a day to relax and decompress after dealing with a plethora of strangers for multiple days in a row. The majority of people are fine, but all it takes is one person’s words or sour attitude to push our minds into negative territory.
We’re living in very tiring times. Taking the time to oneself —whether it be a day or simply a half hour —is more important than ever. Be kind to those you encounter, especially those considered essential workers. Not only healthcare professionals but also those in offices and retail positions, struggling to stay safe while also keeping businesses alive.
We’re all fighting this battle together.