as im sure a few of you guys know - i have been working at starbucks for the last several months in a way to make ends meet here in nashville while i try to figure out where i will venture to next. if you have ever worked retail/food service industry, then im sure a lot of what i am about to say will make total sense. if you have not - well i will leave this sentence to be finished by you. here is my attempt to record what i have learned and how i have changed my habits since working in such an establishment.

kindness is noticed. not only noticed - but greatly appreciated. i cant tell you how nice it is when people are just nice. it goes so far with people. it makes your day a bit nicer and it makes the person behind the bar/counter/younameit want to do a good job. and the opposite is true as well. i find myself going in restaurants trying my damndest to smile and be the most polite that i can be. i hope i can just make things a bit easier for the waiter/waitress whom is being so kind as to SERVE me. did you get that? SERVE. kind of a crazy word - one that most people have no concept of. just think about it a few minutes... it takes some humility to even do what they are doing.

when it is closing time - it is the time for those people who work there to go home. well - after they clean up after you. how would you like me to come into your law office wanting you to stay open a few more minutes for something i just have to have that minute? if a restaurant closes at 10 - dont come in at 9:50 wanting to be served. it is rude. and how would you feel if i told you that you were doing your job wrong? also - would i come into your office and ask you to change the music because you didnt like it - or ask you to turn it down because you are trying to talk/work/write/gossip/babysit? come on - you came there. if you dont like how it is - then go home.

people need people. im firmly convinced that one of the main reason that starbucks is still in business - is loneliness. because it isnt the coffee. i cant tell you how many people come in this store day after day for personal interaction. they want to talk and pretend that you are their friend. i cant imagine how much money these people spend on lattes and frufru drinks a month or even a year. i think this just goes to prove that god created us to need one another and fellowship with one another. as much as sometimes i hate to be around people - it is good for me. it challenges me and teaches me so many things.

people never cease to amaze me. i have had these things happen to me or a co-worker whilst working at starbucks: a lady buys a slice of lemon pound cake - proceeded to eat half of it - brings it to the counter and asks me, can i have something else? i didnt like this very much. me: really? im sorry - i cant. next guy - not the same time. orders coffee and it is still brewing. i say - it will take a few minutes. when it is finished brewing i tell him it is ready. he in turn tells me that he thinks he shouldnt have to pay for this because he has to wait 3 minutes. and now people are getting mad that we are not giving sleeves(the little wasteful piece of cardboard wrapped around the cup)on drinks that are not hot enough to need one. really folks? you care that little about waste? there are just a few... you would be so suprised to hear some of the stories. just ask - ill be glad to tell you.

anyway - i learn a bit every day. mostly good and helps my patience grow. but some times i can just feel the anger stirred in me by st. arbucks...