A Simple Sense of Decency

Ok. So one of my new year's resolutions (ehh, just an excuse to ingrain some habits in my life) is to write in here every day. I believe it will help me to improve upon my writing skills while allowing me to see life in a different light, by looking for things to blog about. So here are my thoughts for today!

When I was hired at the Honey Baked Ham five months ago, I once again rejoined the service industry. For those not aware, the HBH is actually a pretty ingenious business. They have four different types of diversified income:

1. Obviously... HAM. Selling hams and turkeys particularly during the holidays
2. Appealing to moms who need a night off. This means selling premium frozen sides and desserts. Again, a big income maker during the holidays
3. Catering and business deliveries. Making box lunches for businesses to serve at meetings. I hear their delivery driver is always on time and is one of the nicest guys around!
4. Finally, sandwiches. We follow a Subway-like in store lunch option which is actually very successful. Lunch times are often packed.

I really want to focus on that last area of business, the common fast (or faster) food business. Right away I learned just how rude people can be toward the people serving their food. In fact, the employees there let me know that Olivet people are (surprise surprise!) the most rude and mean people who come in. Unfortunately, over time I have seen that they are exactly right. Being an Olivet Alum and a member of that community for almost five years now, I know most of these people. Honestly, I wish I could back them up (and I've tried!) but it's not possible. For some reason, people I know to be decent and kind make a transformation into rude and unkind when ordering a sandwich. They will lean over the sandwich bar, reminding us over and over again that they didn't want onions on their sandwich. They'll ask us to leave the lid off of the soup because "your soups are always way too hot!" It's little comments like that that can really bring you down, especially dealing with people like that all day.

Now what is the reasoning for this transformation? My best guess is that people who have dealt with a boss all day telling them what to do will relish the opportunity to tell someone else what to do and will unleash kempt up anger at being a subordinate in their daily work. Basically, I believe all people have this desire to be lord over someone and that desire is intensified when someone is lord over them. Thus, when they finally have a chance to tell someone what to do, they will transfer that emotion onto the person serving them. It's just a common human reaction. However, does that make it okay? No, not at all!

Being around this all day every day has changed the way I treat others in the service industry. I am now fully conscious of my attitude when out and about and try my hardest to be patient and pleasant to people at a fast food restaurant, wal mart, the post office, and so on and so forth. I would encourage all of you (all one or two!) to do the same. A simple sense of decency when treating others can go so far in making someone's day. Don't give in to depraved reactions, but buck the trend and serve those who serve you!