I was 16 when I began working at the restaurant I currently call home. I've had other jobs here and there to help me pay my bills but I never left the restaurant, even when I really wanted to...and trust me, I've wanted to. Even on the days when I went home crying or the nights I felt would never end, I stuck with it. It has been four years and eleven months since I began working there. It took quite a while before I realized that, while it was a frustrating job it was also rewarding in ways I never expected.

People Are Kind

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No, not all of them are kind but a vast majority of people from all walks of life show even the strangest of strangers genuine kindness. I have met people from Germany, Peru, England, and Mexico who all treated everyone around them with kindness and generosity. Little kids smile and wave at everyone they see as their parents beam at those who treat their children with respect. Grandmas with their church friends have invited me to their houses for their Sunday brunch for no reason except to show kindness.

People Respond Well to Kindness

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While most people I have encountered are inherently kind, there are also quite a few people who are just unhappy and will take it out on me. What I have learned throughout the years is that these people who are rude, demanding or downright mean only need a drop of kindness from a random waitress to help them along their day. Now, that's not to say I am always able to keep my cool and respond to anger with kindness. However, when I have had the capacity for patience it has always paid off and through this practice I have had the privilege of bearing witness to some of the most genuine human emotions.

People Need a Shoulder to Cry on Sometimes

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An older man once came in to pick up a takeout order and when it wasn't quite ready when he arrived he got frustrated and began yelling at me for this delay. When he had calmed down enough to let me respond I simply asked him if he was having a tough day and needed to be somewhere soon. He told me his wife had been bedridden for two weeks and was waiting at home for her lunch. I showed sympathy for his wife's health and then asked if he was doing alright. He began crying. When this happened I immediately walked around the counter and gave this man a hug. He cried until his food was ready but he left with less burden on his shoulders and now when he orders his food he gives me a hug before he leaves and still thanks me for showing him the kindness he needed.

Throughout my time in the service industry, I have had my ups and downs. There are times I have been so fed up with the way we treat each other, but there have also been times where my understanding of humanity has tripled because of a single day at work. Working in the service industry is an eye-opener that I believe everyone should experience at some point in their life.

It will anger you, make you sad, and cause you to evaluate what you know about yourself. But most of all it will humble you. Every person is different, we are all experiencing a different version of this world, and yet we are all connected by the shared kindness of our species.