so lately I, on a casual note, for the sake of just sharing story (you know, the kind of stories you tell just for someone to listen to you and, maybe, empathize or just laugh along, and certainly *not* giving you a heavy lecture instead), told about my recent situation with a cafe worker, how she misheard my order and gave me the wrong chicken dishes. since the 'wrong' chicken has been put with my rice, i personally think that it's inappropriate to ask it to be changed to how I initially want it to be. so I just reluctantly paid for it, and later told about it to my friend with the hope that perhaps that she would laugh and said "LOL".
but instead I was told that I am not firm enough, and that I am only brave enough to complain at the back (cannot we just share our little-bit-sad stories with each other nowadays??)
well while her feedback isn't what I hoped for may be partly true, for a few moment I did think about it, like is that really why I didn't act firm enough? because I think it is unnecessary to fix my order?
it took me a while for I to realize that it all stemmed from my experience working as a service crew. I think it is fair to say that I am easily triggered by people, since it is a frequent thing, but I swear I always try to keep it down, my anger I mean. but no matter how calm I try to be, when I get angry my smile wouldn't fully reach my lips, my eyebrows would still appear stiff, my lips would curl. and my voice would appear monotone and lifeless, and not cheerfully bouncy. and since it is a huge personal struggle for me to still appear friendly while trying to shoo away my anger, I always grateful for all the customers that was very nice. I remembered expressing my gratefulness for having 'angelic customers' everyday after work at Twitter (LOL let me enjoy the little things though my 27+ followers don't care about it)
I very much appreciate them. Sometimes after attending to them I felt guilty for not treating them better and immediately my anger dissipate and I tried to be more friendly to the next customers. I felt like they are, these angelic customers, the main domino to the dominoes of 'customers radiated by Hajar's friendliness'.
I am very sure that short experience of role as service crew that started this experience subconsciously; that I wanted to ease these customer service workers, by understanding that they have their flaws in delivering their best, and still support them nonetheless. I understand that while having *expected* to appear like you are on rainbows 24/7 when accommodating customers, you also have to do things quickly and efficiently. It would take a toll on them, of course. We are all humans, we all have emotions. And while my order is not actually that important and still in acceptable standard, I may just go with it.
While we are in this topic, if you never heard of 'emotional labour' and have some time to spare, google it up.
Of course, this mindset may not be agreed by everyone. Maybe I am indeed not firm enough. 'It's our money we should get as how we should'. Of course, I know the boundaries of my mindset. Just at the moment I really like to keep this mindset, and may this post shed some light to the people that are against this mindset
And with this may we be nicer, and ease everyone else
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