ANGRY?! give 'em Hell !!

This wasnt a topic i first thought necessary to write. Anger for me is a funny thing.  its usually directed inward.  i dont get angry easily.

i was thinking of this at work today.  i waitress.

it was busy.  we were down one staff member at peek hours.  there were some that were lazing around, or simply neglecting things that needed doing.  

Customers were getting impatient, cranky, and frustrated.

there was garbage all over the floor, the tables were filled with garbage, some customers had noisy children, some were talking on phones and ignoring us, and the phone kept ringing.  

it would have been perfectly acceptable for me to pout, get angry and snap at everyone.  Let them see how they like it!  

But i didnt.

instead of tearing my hair out,

instead of yelling at the people ringing the phone constantly,

instead of screaming at the customers when they snapped at me or werent paying attention,

i smiled.

i made them feel welcome.  

i listened to them rant, i let them be heard.

in the end, the only person we have control over is ourselves.  but we can alter someones day by our own attitudes.  in the 7 years i have worked there, i have not had one complaint from a customer.  why? because i am not reactive.

By choosing not to react to a certain situation, you are in a sense defusing a bomb.  there are so many reasons why a smile can be positive.

1.  you have no idea why this person is upset.  your smile may be the best thing they have had all day.  be a ray of sun in someones day.

2. anger + anger = lesson?  no.  when people are angry they very often dont hear anything until theyve calmed down.  smiling and listening lets them vent until they are ready to hear you. by arguing you are only escalating the problem, not helping to solve it.

3. you can avoid causing yourself a headache by "going with the flow".  that doesnt mean the other person is right, it just means that you are mature enough to know when to clam up.  smile and be on your way, it means you are the bigger person.  does arguing and "making your point" really get you anywhere?  

actions speak louder than words more often anyway

im probably going around in circles here.  but my point is, even though today was a bit stressful, i  (yes I) could have caused it to be far worse.  instead i smiled, helped people, made them smile, and in return they always treat me with the same respect i gave them.

a smile can make the world a better place.