Dear servers,

Don't assume that a person who leaves you no tip or a small tip is rude. Don't assume they don't respect you. Don't assume they thought your service was poor. Don't assume.

I keep seeing these posts going viral with a picture of a receipt that has no tip or a small tip. Sometimes these receipts have a note on them from the customer, sometimes they don't. The caption is always the same though. "Think about the server," they write. "Don't go out to eat if you can't afford to tip," they advise. "I'm living off of my tips," they complain. "Try to see things from your server's perspective," they plead.

Try to see things from your customer's perspective.

I understand that servers make their money from their tips. I know that your two dollars an hour won't pay the bills. I'm aware that most of the time your checks come back void once taxes are taken out. I empathize with you. Can you empathize with your customers?

How about that mom who lives pay check to pay check? She saves up her money to have one night a month to be able to treat her children to a dinner out, but she doesn't have enough to leave you the tip you deserve. What about those travelers, the immigrants? Where they come from, servers are paid minimum wage or better. It's customary to simply leave the change left over as the tip. They aren't aware of your situation. Have you taken into account their unknown situation before becoming angry about your own?

I'm not making excuses for the jerk who comes in looking for a free meal. I don't mean to say that the guy who complains the entire time he's there is a saint. All I'm saying is you shouldn't assume. Don't get angry that you weren't tipped properly. I promise you will be much happier in life when you stop assuming the worst in people.

Go through life with empathy, not anger.