The day started out like any other. I woke up, got dressed, and headed over to the local Starbucks to grab a coffee before class. I got up to the register, ordered my coffee through my groggy tired morning voice. As I waited for the machine to read my debit card, I asked the cashier how his morning was going. Every time I ask this question, I always get the generic, “it’s good, how is yours?” or sometimes the “I’m tired but I’m making it through the day, how about you?” This day was different.

When I finished asking the cashier how his day was, he looked at me in shock. I stood there for a second, wondering if I had said something that didn’t make sense. I mean, I was tired. He took a step back as a huge grin wiped across his face and excitedly said, “Oh my god. I’m good! Thank you SO much for asking!! I really appreciate it!!” I have never seen a happier person in my life. In this moment, I asked “Wait… is that not a question that you get asked often?” The next words that came out of his mouth absolutely broke my heart. He said, “No, most people just treat us like coffee making robots.”

Now, I understand that most people can be bitter without their morning coffee, and more often than not people run into Starbucks in a hurry on their way to class or work. However, how much does it take to stop and ask someone how they are? Someone who is doing you a service. Someone who works tirelessly, and quite frankly at ridiculous hours, so that you can have your morning coffee and go on with your day. All it takes is a little bit of kindness, which is something that shouldn’t even have to be asked of you considering that it’s simply the right way to treat a person, to make for a good day of work for someone.

This of course is not to say that every customer is rude or unfriendly. From personal experience of working in customer service, including Starbucks, I know that there are so many amazing customers who truly care to know how your day is going. But, that doesn’t take away from the fact that others think that it is okay to treat someone as a servant, as felt by the cashier that I spoke with.

The five minutes that I was in that Starbucks was one of the most eye-opening moments that I have experienced. Kindness is contagious, so share a little love. Always say hello to the person that is helping you, whether it is in a Starbucks, restaurant, clothing store, or anywhere that requires assistance. Ask them how they are, because for all you know, you could be the only one asking them that day.