After six years of working in retail at a tanning salon I can't believe how much I have learned about people. More importantly, how to deal with people. I have had customers who have yelled, cried, screamed or even tried to put a hand on me from across the counter. I've also had customers who were so nice to me that it made me remember why I love working with people. Regardless, providing good customer service can be a huge challenge. So here's a list of everything I have learned to accept while in the workplace. For those of you in retail, God bless you.

1. There are people who live to make other people miserable.

No, not everyone means well. Unfortunately there are people out there who are mean just because they can be.

2. Everyone is allowed to have a bad day.

Referring to No. 1, just because someone is in a horrible mood one day doesn't mean they are a horrible person.

3. Grown women and men are capable of having a temper tantrum.

And it is shocking. Push through and once they have walked away let yourself laugh.

4. Sometimes, all anyone needs is a smile.

I firmly believe no matter how mean or miserable a customer is, a smile has the ability to change that.

5. The people you work with become your family.

I'm with my co-workers more than I'm with my family, friends, significant other, etc. Let me tell you, they sometimes know more about me and my life than some of those people because I'm with them everyday. And in times of stress and busy hours, they have all become my family

6. It is not the customers fault.

This one is is probably the most difficult truth to accept. No matter what, if you've had a bad day or the store is busy as heck, it's not worth taking it out on some innocent person. And in tough times I just have to remember, it is what it is.

7. I am replaceable.

The turnover rate is so high in any retail business that you get whiplash trying to keep up. There will be times someone is hired and fired before I even know their name. And I could be next if I don't strive to do my best.

8. Don't take it personal.

This one is for the customer too. I cannot change the price of a product or break the rules at anytime, and that is not me personally having a vendetta against you. And from my experience, anytime someone is upset with "me," they're actually upset with the company. So I can walk away without it hovering over my shoulders.

9. The best reward is gaining a customer's trust.

I love my regular customers who enjoy seeing me. Of all other things customers could feel towards a retail worker, trust is the best acquired. Knowing someone trusts me means I did something right; I provided them a service / product / experience that changed their day for the better. And as cheesy as it sounds, it makes me feel awesome when that happens.

10. People who have never worked in retail will never understand.

And no matter how hard you try to get them to understand or sympathize with you there is no winning that argument. And you need to let it go.