I noticed two women in line ahead of me, getting agitated with the sales clerk. At first I thought they were together, and then I realized they weren't - their only connection was their mounting frustration with this lone salesperson.
One woman was waving her twenty dollar bill in the air and saying "It's just not worth the savings" with increasing vigour. The other was pacing back and forth, tapping her wallet on the counter and saying, "I'm still waaaaiting." over and over. Finally, the first woman just walked away, with a final "It's really not worth the savings." The other let the clerk check out her purchase, but only with voluminous sighs worthy of a community theatre melodrama.
It was finally my turn, so I smiled at the clerk as he dealt with my purchase. But he was so beaten down, so embarrassed, that he wouldn't meet my gaze.
This wasn't a bad person or a lazy worker -
just someone overwhelmed on a busy day
in a crowded store.
As he finished my transaction, I tried one more time. "I hope your day gets better." He finally looked up and caught my eye. I gave him my biggest, goofiest grin. "Hope your day gets better, " I sing-songed.
He laughed, I smiled, and that was when I decided...
This Christmas, I'm going to be the
perkiest,
happiest,
most joyful
customer you've ever seen.
I'm going to smile at everyone - and I mean everyone!
I'm going to let you cut ahead of me in line.
I'm going to ask you, "How's it going?" before you check out my purchase.
And if things get too crazy, I may just break out in a round of
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" while you're crashing your shopping cart into mine.
Extreme times call for extreme measures. You may find my approach silly or annoying, but giant-sized Grinchiness must be met with freakishly fantastic festiveness!
My challenge to you: How are you battling the Grinch this year?
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