If anyone has ever worked in a restaurant, you know how hectic the nights can be: loud people, demanding service, swirling their empty glasses around, with food being slung left and right. Crying babies are often involved, screaming at the top of their lungs, as well as the one woman who just can't get her steak cooked "to the perfect temp." In the midst of this, sometimes there is kindness, and this is an example of just that:
Dear Kind Stranger,
I feel that I must tell you that you made my night last night. I work as a server for a catering company. This translates to being on my feet for seven hours, trying not to drop a tray full of hot appetizers as I walk around in the Tennessee heat wearing all black, and sometimes it means groups of drunk wedding-goers dancing around me while I try to sweep up broken glass. It is usually a thankless job. I pass out cake and clean up trash and most people avoid eye contact until they need me to do something that is totally beyond my control. It is not a dream job, but it is a good job for a starving college student, with the added bonus of a free meal. I never go into the night expecting a genuine thank you. But you, kind stranger, went even beyond that.
I was filling tea when you stopped me to thank me for being so pleasant throughout the night. You could’ve stopped there and I would’ve gone home feeling appreciated and accomplished. But then you asked me my name, and shook my hand and asked me about school and my future aspirations (p.s. I forgive you for assuming I wanted to be a teacher). And then you encouraged me to pursue my dreams and not to measure my success by how much money I can make because writing is about so much more than that. I hadn’t sat down in four hours but your words made me feel light on my feet once again.
We live in a world of instant gratification, no longer is it ask and you shall receive, it is now demand and you shall expect it to be exactly as you want it. I think because of this, we are losing our gratitude. We don't appreciate going above and beyond: we expect it.
So kind stranger, thank you for the gratitude and for taking a moment out of your night to make mine. You set an example for me that I intend to follow. It is never a waste of time to make someone feel important. When I walk into work, I am a server, it is in my job title to serve you. But you took the time to recognize that I am more than that.
I think we can all learn a lesson from you: it doesn't take long and it doesn't take much to make someone feel valued and I think we could all use a little more of that.
So thank you for the lesson kind stranger, know that any time I am around, your sweet tea glass will never be empty.
Sincerely,
A grateful server
So to all the kind customers, we applaud you. Thank you for your kindness and for your understanding. We truly appreciate your ability to treat us with respect and dignity in our place of work.
