I worked in retail. I liked it. Even with long hours, low pay, having to be on my feet all day and the rest.

I liked the chance to meet other people even though I might have seemed shy.

I liked the game of seeing whether I could get someone to talk to me.

I loved working retail where I got to witness the sheer humanity of fellow employees and customers.

You see, I sucked at sports. Last one picked. You get the idea.

I didn’t have the team experience of all for one and all that.

I was a loner, for a lot of reasons.

One day, while working retail, I witnessed a young guy, so nervous because he wanted to look his best at his wedding the following day ... in a meadow, on horseback, while the bride’s father held a shotgun to his back (as a joke).

On another day, the Marines just back from overseas, eager to impress the ladies at a cowboy bar later that night.

The successful executive with a rock on her finger the size of a quarter who complained about the price of a pair of blue ostrich boots which she’d only use once or twice (but purchased anyway).

Following your gut to discover what really matters to the person in front of you, and for that very small moment in time, standing next to them with their struggle to be understood. To get help. To be human.

The challenge for us working in retail sales is to honor the very essence of retail – that of humanizing a population desperate for a brief moment to be witnessed.