Do you ever search for the brief moments in your day that bring you tiny bursts of joy? Do you ever revel in memories with people or at places you love; thinking about them or talking about them for a series of minutes until you feel like you’re back in time visiting that special place, smiling at that special loved one, or laughing over something completely random that you and your best friend only understand? Do you ever make conscious efforts to really truly seek out memories and moments that make your world keep turning every day…the memories and moments that make you wake up and face a new day in an ever broken and dark world that we live in. If you don’t, think about trying to. What ways would your life change? What new realities would you embrace? What new bliss would you begin to find in your day to day life? I’ve been making strong conscious efforts to do this, especially since starting this blog and this series "12 Months of Sunshine," and let me give my testimony, that I may be the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.
Though we’re a week into April and I should be writing about the new theme for this month, I have to share an incredibly poignant experience that I had at my job a couple of weeks back that I haven’t made the time to write about until now.
It was unbelieveably relative to Moments & Memories March.
It was a random weekday evening at Houstons, the restaurant I’ve worked at for nearly 4 years now, and business was especially slow this evening. For a server, a slow night means a smaller paycheck, which can definitely damper ones mood, or more importantly, ones interactions with the guests being taken care of on that slow night.
After being in the service industry since I was 15, I have grown to love my job as a server on a whole new level, especially since trying to “share my sunshine” with the world more often. I no longer view interactions with my guests as waitress to customer relationships, but literally and simply human to human relationships. What energy can I give to this couple that may change their previously hostile evening together to a loving enjoyable dining experience that makes them forget their problems? What jokes can I brief over a table of middle aged ladies drinking the ever buttery Bernardus chardonnay and eating grilled chicken salads that may make them think of waitresses as people rather than their servants for that hour and a half of their night? What small child can I tell to “call me Jelly if you need anything, sweetie” that makes them giggle and have an inner, innocent connection with me for that moment?
When thinking about human to human interactions, rather than occupational job to customer interactions, the possibilities for changing this dynamic are endless. No matter what occupation you hold in this world, or even if your in between work and looking for employment, try thinking of human rather than gas station attendant, human rather than burger flipper, human rather than evil lawyer.
At the end of the day, that is our one commonality; being human. The flawed and beautiful creatures that we are.
Thus I digress. But on this slow night, while I was in a rather blasé mood, a couple of ladies came in and sat down at table 12; one of my tables for the night.
I went up and greeted them with nothing extra above a smile and a happy, hospitable energy, but I could tell they immediately connected with me somehow. Their smiles both lit rays of imaginary light between the three of us, and before 15 seconds had passed, we were all engaged in giddy conversation. They were celebrating two occasions; a job promotion for one of them, as well as enjoying 6 months in their new home they had just bought together. We began discussing theatre (one was a makeup artist as well as bartender) and eventually got into the ends and outs of our wine list. I brought them a few tastes so they could chose the perfect bottle for their celebratory evening, and then they moved onto food; all the while, joking and laughing and talking (all three of us) and enjoying the energy within their date night, and my regular night shift.
By the end of the meal, the decline of desert, and the presentation of their credit card to pay for dinner, I went to ask my manager if we could take care of the bottle of wine or appetizer for them in honor of their celebrations. Their check was nearly $200 as it was. I am fortunate enough to work for Hillstone Restaurant Group where we are able to treat our most amazing guests with the most amazing hospitality. Since it had been so slow, and I spoke so highly of my interactions with them, my manager happily responded with “buy their whole check!”
With an excited smile, I went to drop off their food I had boxed for them to take home, as well as their un-swiped credit card. Upon telling them that everything was on the restaurant that night, one of the ladies immediately began crying! “You’re kidding! I don’t even know what to say!?” she exclaimed before asking her partner, ”Do you have any extra cash? We already had this out for you, but totally need to give you more!” At this moment she reached out her hand to me which already had a $100 bill folded in between her fingers.
At this point, I was nearly in tears! It was one of the slowest nights at work I had seen in so long and I knew I wasn’t profiting much from the tables I had had. But yet these two women, who found our interactions and my service for them so wonderful that they were going to tip me $100 in cash from the delight of their experience; and that was BEFORE we even told them they were having their whole check paid for by us!
Of course this led to me telling them about my human to human hospitality theory, that everyone has the power to impact someone else with their sunshine and happiness, even if only for a brief period. We then began discussing my blog, our views on life and love and
happiness, and the pursuit of good vibes in a rough and tough world. The woman that was a bartender then gave me her information to come see her at her restaurant, and told me drinks would be on her. They also said that though they visit all of the Atlanta Houstons locations, that this would now be their favorite.
Before they got up from the table to go, I shook both of their hands with literal tear filled eyes, and asked their names:
“I’m Rene!” one of the ladies said.
“And I’m Love!”
Ilooked back at her questioningly, “Love? Your name is Love!?”
“That’s right!”
Ya’ll. These women were Rene and LOVE. WHAT!?!? How incredible does it get?!
They also thanked and hugged my manager before leaving; overjoyed with their night, and the biggest of big smiles on all four of our faces.
All in the name of happy energy.
All in the name of that little extra smile or conversation that changed the course of the whole night.
All in the name of going above and beyond, JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN.
All in the name of love.
For that hour and a half, though ONLY an hour and a half, each of our three worlds were changed for the better. Each of us was positively impacted and changed; a moment, a memory, a ray of sunshine to add to the list of life.
I write this post not to boast about being nice and getting paid $120 cash for doing so, but rather with hopes to inspire you to aim for experiences like this in your life. I didn’t go up to them with a blasé personal mood, and negative energy to share with them. I went up to them with a blasé mood, but still happy energy that I knew may affect them in a great way, and look at how the night unfolded.
Your smile does change hearts.
Your words can bring someone up, or tear someone down.
Asking that gas station attendant “how is your day?” may be the first time someone has asked about THEM all week.
Remember your power in this world. Remember your ability to affect everything around you. Remember that even in your absolute darkest days, you have rays of sunshine within you; shining from even the smallest ember, but shining nonetheless.
Share that sunshine with the world, and my goodness, even if it doesn’t happen in that moment, or that memory, or that day, it will come back to you in ways you might not can even imagine.
Though we’re a week into April and I should be writing about the new theme for this month, I have to share an incredibly poignant experience that I had at my job a couple of weeks back that I haven’t made the time to write about until now.
It was unbelieveably relative to Moments & Memories March.
It was a random weekday evening at Houstons, the restaurant I’ve worked at for nearly 4 years now, and business was especially slow this evening. For a server, a slow night means a smaller paycheck, which can definitely damper ones mood, or more importantly, ones interactions with the guests being taken care of on that slow night.
After being in the service industry since I was 15, I have grown to love my job as a server on a whole new level, especially since trying to “share my sunshine” with the world more often. I no longer view interactions with my guests as waitress to customer relationships, but literally and simply human to human relationships. What energy can I give to this couple that may change their previously hostile evening together to a loving enjoyable dining experience that makes them forget their problems? What jokes can I brief over a table of middle aged ladies drinking the ever buttery Bernardus chardonnay and eating grilled chicken salads that may make them think of waitresses as people rather than their servants for that hour and a half of their night? What small child can I tell to “call me Jelly if you need anything, sweetie” that makes them giggle and have an inner, innocent connection with me for that moment?
When thinking about human to human interactions, rather than occupational job to customer interactions, the possibilities for changing this dynamic are endless. No matter what occupation you hold in this world, or even if your in between work and looking for employment, try thinking of human rather than gas station attendant, human rather than burger flipper, human rather than evil lawyer.
At the end of the day, that is our one commonality; being human. The flawed and beautiful creatures that we are.
Thus I digress. But on this slow night, while I was in a rather blasé mood, a couple of ladies came in and sat down at table 12; one of my tables for the night.
I went up and greeted them with nothing extra above a smile and a happy, hospitable energy, but I could tell they immediately connected with me somehow. Their smiles both lit rays of imaginary light between the three of us, and before 15 seconds had passed, we were all engaged in giddy conversation. They were celebrating two occasions; a job promotion for one of them, as well as enjoying 6 months in their new home they had just bought together. We began discussing theatre (one was a makeup artist as well as bartender) and eventually got into the ends and outs of our wine list. I brought them a few tastes so they could chose the perfect bottle for their celebratory evening, and then they moved onto food; all the while, joking and laughing and talking (all three of us) and enjoying the energy within their date night, and my regular night shift.
By the end of the meal, the decline of desert, and the presentation of their credit card to pay for dinner, I went to ask my manager if we could take care of the bottle of wine or appetizer for them in honor of their celebrations. Their check was nearly $200 as it was. I am fortunate enough to work for Hillstone Restaurant Group where we are able to treat our most amazing guests with the most amazing hospitality. Since it had been so slow, and I spoke so highly of my interactions with them, my manager happily responded with “buy their whole check!”
With an excited smile, I went to drop off their food I had boxed for them to take home, as well as their un-swiped credit card. Upon telling them that everything was on the restaurant that night, one of the ladies immediately began crying! “You’re kidding! I don’t even know what to say!?” she exclaimed before asking her partner, ”Do you have any extra cash? We already had this out for you, but totally need to give you more!” At this moment she reached out her hand to me which already had a $100 bill folded in between her fingers.
At this point, I was nearly in tears! It was one of the slowest nights at work I had seen in so long and I knew I wasn’t profiting much from the tables I had had. But yet these two women, who found our interactions and my service for them so wonderful that they were going to tip me $100 in cash from the delight of their experience; and that was BEFORE we even told them they were having their whole check paid for by us!
Of course this led to me telling them about my human to human hospitality theory, that everyone has the power to impact someone else with their sunshine and happiness, even if only for a brief period. We then began discussing my blog, our views on life and love and
happiness, and the pursuit of good vibes in a rough and tough world. The woman that was a bartender then gave me her information to come see her at her restaurant, and told me drinks would be on her. They also said that though they visit all of the Atlanta Houstons locations, that this would now be their favorite.
Before they got up from the table to go, I shook both of their hands with literal tear filled eyes, and asked their names:
“I’m Rene!” one of the ladies said.
“And I’m Love!”
Ilooked back at her questioningly, “Love? Your name is Love!?”
“That’s right!”
Ya’ll. These women were Rene and LOVE. WHAT!?!? How incredible does it get?!
They also thanked and hugged my manager before leaving; overjoyed with their night, and the biggest of big smiles on all four of our faces.
All in the name of happy energy.
All in the name of that little extra smile or conversation that changed the course of the whole night.
All in the name of going above and beyond, JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN.
All in the name of love.
For that hour and a half, though ONLY an hour and a half, each of our three worlds were changed for the better. Each of us was positively impacted and changed; a moment, a memory, a ray of sunshine to add to the list of life.
I write this post not to boast about being nice and getting paid $120 cash for doing so, but rather with hopes to inspire you to aim for experiences like this in your life. I didn’t go up to them with a blasé personal mood, and negative energy to share with them. I went up to them with a blasé mood, but still happy energy that I knew may affect them in a great way, and look at how the night unfolded.
Your smile does change hearts.
Your words can bring someone up, or tear someone down.
Asking that gas station attendant “how is your day?” may be the first time someone has asked about THEM all week.
Remember your power in this world. Remember your ability to affect everything around you. Remember that even in your absolute darkest days, you have rays of sunshine within you; shining from even the smallest ember, but shining nonetheless.
Share that sunshine with the world, and my goodness, even if it doesn’t happen in that moment, or that memory, or that day, it will come back to you in ways you might not can even imagine.
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