Today we went to the bike store to retrieve my road bike. I've been injured off and on for the last two months, so I am moving forward with something new. I've owned this bike for over an year and have yet to take a ride. Its time. Its time to try something new and learn how to fly in a new way. That's the hope part. It's easy to push and push and get frustrated as our plans don't go our way. Its much harder to try a new direction. Don't mis-understand, I'm not giving up on running....but I choose now to travel in hope and try something new. I hope I like it cycling. I hope I love it. I hope I keep running too.
We were the first to arrive at the store. In fact, we arrived before the clerk. He arrived flustered and late and grumpy. He complained how "the other guy" did no work and left a mess for him to clean up. He complained that he had worked 16 days straight without a day off. He complained that my bike was not ready because the "other guy" is lazy and on and on.
I was annoyed. Frankly I didn't care about him or his troubles. He was rude and unprofessional. He said my bike would be ready in an hour and to return then. He would work on my bike just as soon as he cleaned up the mess the other guy left him.
We left to deliver meals and I was hot. What terrible customer service! Really! I would pick up my bike and never return. No, I would pick up my bike and then called the owner and complain of his bad behavior.
You were sitting in the back with your brothers, unaware that anything was the matter.
"That guy was really grumpy," I said. No answer, none of you noticed. You were in awe of the hundreds of bikes lined up neatly in a row. Really I'm surprised I noticed as I was terrified that one of you would knock one or more of the bikes over. They were poised for the dreaded domino effect.
"If you were grumpy and had to work, what would make you feel better?'
"Play a game for 10 hrs" Sebastian chimed in.
"Well, he can't because he's at work"
"Go home to mom & dad?" Sweet Sam.
"He can't, he has to work."
"He needs a snack." Oh Gigi, you are wise beyond your years.
He probably got out of bed 10 mins before arriving at work and didn't have breakfast. Your sweet heart softened mine. It was settled. We would eat our lunch at the Chic-fil-A next door to the bike shop and bring this grumpy guy a cookie. I can't imagine a reprimand from his boss would help his demeanor, nor losing his job.
When we returned he was still working on my bike. I frowned.
"I brought you something." I said cheerfully. He didn't look up.
"Oh?" He grumbled.
"Yes, we thought you were having a rough day, so we brought you a cookie."
He looked down at the cookie. "Sweet!"
His entire demeanor changed. He cheerfully told me the story of knocking all the bikes over in the store as I fussed at Sam not to touch anything. I paid and he helped me load the bike into our minivan. Which he did with ease and joy.
Other than the "sweet," nothing was said about the cookie. But he cheered quite a bit. And that was worth it. Far more than wondering if my complaint got him fired, I left knowing that I, at least, increased his sugar levels and he was no longer hangry (hungry + anger).
Travel in kindness, my dear Gigi. Although I might have felt better, telling him or his boss about his bad behavior, it would have helped no one, including me. This way, it might help the next customer that walked in.
I hope when you behave badly at your job, as we all do sometimes, that someone will extend grace, kindness and mercy.
"It's not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It's our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless." L.R. Knost
"Those who are Kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin of themselves." Proverbs 11:17
"Be Kind whenever possible. It is always possible " Dalai Lama XIV
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