I have an interesting job. There's no ifs, ands or maybes about that--and don't get me wrong, I love it. However, there are those days when I find myself completely exasperated by the world around me. Such is true in pretty much every job. So, just so you readers out there know what to AVOID, here are ten ways to irritate your clerk, in five syllables or less (maybe more on some of these things, haha)... though sometimes you don't have to talk AT ALL.
(For the record, these are not in any particular order)
Numero uno: I am not a psychiatrist. Or a bartender. I'm not paid to hear your life story--and frankly, I don't wanna hear about the illegal things you've done. I don't want to testify.
2: Don't lie to me. If you tell me that you desperately need money for baby formula when I can see you drive a two-seater car with no car seat--I'll either think you're a really bad parent or I'll smell a lie.
3. Do NOT ignore me because you'd rather one of the guys help you. I am just as capable as they are. Just because I'm female, doesn't mean I'm stupid.
4. I'm not your "honey," "baby," "sugar," or "sweetheart," and no, I'm not going to give you more money because you're calling me those things.
5. If you come in and try to buy my jeweler's scale because it weighs in GRAMS, I'm going to know exactly what you are using it for. No I'm not going to sell it to you.
6. No I'm not going to give you a discount on a new item. It's new! Would you ask Wal-Mart for a discount on milk?
**Sometimes we do discounts, because we are nice like that, but you shouldn't rudely demand it!
7. If I quote you a price, as politely as I can, please don't give me a blank stare and rudely ask: "Are you serious?" No, I'm actually kidding. I just wanted to see your reaction. (Thought with heavy sarcasm and imaginary eye rolling). Yes of course I'm serious. I'm only obnoxious when there isn't chance of me losing my job.
8. Why yes, I am old enough to sell guns. No, I'm not fourteen--and no, I don't want to hang out after work.
9. I work with mostly guys. Go ahead. Yell at me. I dare you.
10. And lastly, please don't tell me you have scrap gold you want to sell then drop Grandma's teeth in my hand. I'm willing to take the gold--but please put in in a baggy...and don't tell me in graphic detail how you got it.
My job really is unique, and I have met many wonderful people through it. These are just a few experiences that I look back upon now and smile, though at the time they can be quite exasperating.
Choose a road, and job, that will keep you laughing.
-Lola
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Lessons Learned
"I'm thankful for every break in my heart; I'm grateful, for every start. Some pages turned, some bridges burned--but there were, lessons learned."
-Carrie Underwood
I hope you will all indulge me tonight as I do some self-reflecting. Lately I have dwelled very much on the decisions I have made in my life. Decisions, I think, will be the focus of my post tonight.
I am not perfect. I am far from it. In example, if perfection is the sun then I'm sitting somewhere out past Pluto. :) Haha. In all seriousness though, I suppose tonight I write in a search for redemption as my thoughts turn to the past chapters of my life.
I owe many apologies to many whose lives have brushed with my own. I feel as though I went from the girl who said nothing, to the woman who's tongue works much faster than her brain. I have been ill-tempered and said many things towards--and about--many who do not deserve it--and I hope they can find it in their hearts to forgive me. I have done things I should not have. My actions have not always conveyed my deep convictions, which I deeply regret. Despite the wrongs that may have been done towards me, I know there are many situations I could have handled much differently. But, hindsight is always 20/20. In short: I'm sorry. There were many times I felt like I was making the right decision, and I will not apologize for that--but I don't hate anyone and hope the same is true towards me.
I will refrain from indulging in my own misery, for I am not a miserable person and have no desire to become one--and I know that none of you purchased tickets to my pity-party. ;) So as I close the tattered chapters of my life that have haunted me--as we all must at some point in our lives--and move forward, I hope that I can become a better person. Perhaps with a little divine intervention, I will. :)
I began with a quote from a song that has seemed to be a bit of a theme for my life. I've broke a heart or two, and have had to patch up my own just as many times. Life is a continual learning experience, even if we don't always figure out the lesson right away--and I am grateful for every break in my heart. There are certainly aspects of my life that I would do over, but not if I had to give up the lesson that I learned. The decisions I have made, both for good and ill, have shaped the person I am today.
I couldn't sleep the other night, so I laid there and thought about all the different directions my life could have taken. I thought of the way I wanted it to go--and surprisingly--I found that I was very grateful that the Lord did not allow me to choose that road. At the time, I was certain it was what I wanted, yet now there is so much more before me. I'm not saying I would have been unhappy with any of the paths that I thought I wanted. I'm certain that with a good attitude and a little faith that it all would have turned out very well--but I now see that despite all the detours I have taken, I am right where I need to be. I am making decisions that I previously did not think I would have to make, but I am grateful that I am here. In short, all the decisions I have made, whether good or bad, have led me right to this very spot, and I'm pretty sure this is where I need to be. I'm not sure why yet, but I am quite eager to see where it leads me. I am certainly much more cautious about certain things, but I am also ready to make decisions I was previously too frightened to make.
I am determined to be a better person, though I realize that I am imperfect. I will try to never be angry, for I know how it feels to have someone angry at me. I am determined never to yell, for I cringe at the sound of raised voices. I am determined to do good in all things, knowing the weight that guilt carries. I will mess up I am sure, but I will do the best I can and learn from each failure.
To get to the point I am making, do not let the colors of your sins define who you are. Make decisions that you feel are best. Apologize when you hurt someone, but never change your mind because someone else doesn't like what you are doing. Learn to forgive yourself, because everyone makes mistakes. Become the person you want to be, because in the end, it is only between you and God.
Everyone is imperfect. We each are fighting battles that no one else can really comprehend. We should not judge, though I admit I am as guilty as anyone of doing so. But if we all tried a little harder to be a little better, the world would improve that much more. It is our decisions that help define who we are. We need to take those chances; assist that change. We are more than the sum of our past mistakes, and it is never took late for redemption. The next chapter is clean and ready to written--and you are the author (with a little help from the Man Upstairs.) And how grateful we should be for that help. I know I am.
This post has turned out to be much longer than I orginally thought, so I leave with one of my absolute favorite poems. I ask that you particularly note the last stanza.
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
-Carrie Underwood
I hope you will all indulge me tonight as I do some self-reflecting. Lately I have dwelled very much on the decisions I have made in my life. Decisions, I think, will be the focus of my post tonight.
I am not perfect. I am far from it. In example, if perfection is the sun then I'm sitting somewhere out past Pluto. :) Haha. In all seriousness though, I suppose tonight I write in a search for redemption as my thoughts turn to the past chapters of my life.
I owe many apologies to many whose lives have brushed with my own. I feel as though I went from the girl who said nothing, to the woman who's tongue works much faster than her brain. I have been ill-tempered and said many things towards--and about--many who do not deserve it--and I hope they can find it in their hearts to forgive me. I have done things I should not have. My actions have not always conveyed my deep convictions, which I deeply regret. Despite the wrongs that may have been done towards me, I know there are many situations I could have handled much differently. But, hindsight is always 20/20. In short: I'm sorry. There were many times I felt like I was making the right decision, and I will not apologize for that--but I don't hate anyone and hope the same is true towards me.
I will refrain from indulging in my own misery, for I am not a miserable person and have no desire to become one--and I know that none of you purchased tickets to my pity-party. ;) So as I close the tattered chapters of my life that have haunted me--as we all must at some point in our lives--and move forward, I hope that I can become a better person. Perhaps with a little divine intervention, I will. :)
I began with a quote from a song that has seemed to be a bit of a theme for my life. I've broke a heart or two, and have had to patch up my own just as many times. Life is a continual learning experience, even if we don't always figure out the lesson right away--and I am grateful for every break in my heart. There are certainly aspects of my life that I would do over, but not if I had to give up the lesson that I learned. The decisions I have made, both for good and ill, have shaped the person I am today.
I couldn't sleep the other night, so I laid there and thought about all the different directions my life could have taken. I thought of the way I wanted it to go--and surprisingly--I found that I was very grateful that the Lord did not allow me to choose that road. At the time, I was certain it was what I wanted, yet now there is so much more before me. I'm not saying I would have been unhappy with any of the paths that I thought I wanted. I'm certain that with a good attitude and a little faith that it all would have turned out very well--but I now see that despite all the detours I have taken, I am right where I need to be. I am making decisions that I previously did not think I would have to make, but I am grateful that I am here. In short, all the decisions I have made, whether good or bad, have led me right to this very spot, and I'm pretty sure this is where I need to be. I'm not sure why yet, but I am quite eager to see where it leads me. I am certainly much more cautious about certain things, but I am also ready to make decisions I was previously too frightened to make.
I am determined to be a better person, though I realize that I am imperfect. I will try to never be angry, for I know how it feels to have someone angry at me. I am determined never to yell, for I cringe at the sound of raised voices. I am determined to do good in all things, knowing the weight that guilt carries. I will mess up I am sure, but I will do the best I can and learn from each failure.
To get to the point I am making, do not let the colors of your sins define who you are. Make decisions that you feel are best. Apologize when you hurt someone, but never change your mind because someone else doesn't like what you are doing. Learn to forgive yourself, because everyone makes mistakes. Become the person you want to be, because in the end, it is only between you and God.
Everyone is imperfect. We each are fighting battles that no one else can really comprehend. We should not judge, though I admit I am as guilty as anyone of doing so. But if we all tried a little harder to be a little better, the world would improve that much more. It is our decisions that help define who we are. We need to take those chances; assist that change. We are more than the sum of our past mistakes, and it is never took late for redemption. The next chapter is clean and ready to written--and you are the author (with a little help from the Man Upstairs.) And how grateful we should be for that help. I know I am.
This post has turned out to be much longer than I orginally thought, so I leave with one of my absolute favorite poems. I ask that you particularly note the last stanza.
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you
are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind
anyway.
If you are successful, you
will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and
sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What
you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create
anyway.
If you find serenity and
happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will
often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and
it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it
is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
-Mother Teresa
Take that road that scares you; that decision you know you should make but are too frightened to do so. Forgive those in your past, and move forward. Do good to those who can do nothing for you--because you can still do something for them. Forge your own path.
-Lola
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