Let's set the scene...its Monday morning...I am super inspired to take on the week, and finish out October doing the best I can do. It's going to be a long week, and I have to be super on top of everything to get thru it (and thrive, not just survive). So, I am feeling good, ready to do this. I open the shop doors, turn on my favorite music station, and hit the ground running. I am humming along, checking things off my checklist like crazy, and way ahead of schedule. So far, winning!! Granted, it's only been about three hours at this point, but I am off to a good start. Now enters the first customer of the day. She is literally the first person I have had human contact with up to this point today (besides my husband, but he doesn't totally count since he was still asleep when I left the house and mumble and "good bye" as I rattled off a list of the days happenings). She looked like she could be Ouiser's second cousin from Steel Magnolis, and had about the same attitude. I wasn't letting me get that down though...I was making it my personal mission to break her down, and I wasn't going to be satisfied until she smiled. If nothing else, a smirk would do. As she is going thru the store complaining about today's styles, or lack there of, Shake It Off by Taylor Swift starts playing (how appropriate). She almost instantly whips her head around and croaks out, "is this who I think it is?".
Trying to be charming, and more engaging, I said, "it depends on who you think it is" <insert giggle>.
She came back with "the skinny girl who doesn't know how to sing".
I pretended to pull it up on the computer to have creditable source for the info I was about ready to confirm with her. For some reason that made it seem less like my fault when I said, "oh, it looks like its Taylor Swift".
...Now...I know there are some T Swift lovers, and some haters...but I think at the end of the day, she is good at what she does. I mean, she has done pretty well for herself, there is no denying that. And I love that she is a good role model for young girls. Her songs are catchy, fun, and easy to listen to. And, when they are on in the store, I know I won't have to skip past them before the curse words come on, or worry that she starts singing about sex and drugs. My filter is always "if my Grandma was in the store, would this be appropriate?" I mean, I am fine pushing her a little, but not off her rocker. ;)
At this point, the woman I was determined to become friends with, starts going on and on about how "back in her day musicians were true artists, and real poets" and that "music today is just garbage, and the people calling themselves artists could stand to learn a thing or two from REAL artists, like Simon & Garfunkel, and the Beatles...those peoples were the greats, and did more than just sing 'la la's and na na's' over and over again." I am sorry, but I listened to those songs all my life, and there are a lot of La La's and repetitive phrases going on. If that is your only beef with Tay Tay, think you should pick a new argument. She rambled on and on and I smiled politely. She left me saying "this is probably falling on deaf ears - I assume you like this crap."
And from there my Monday went downhill. But I can't let her win, so I told myself that "haters are gonna hate, hate, hate" and that I just gotta "shake it off, shake it off". But it left me wondering, why do people have to be mean? Why can't we just all be nice, and get along?! Did she feel better when she left the store after going off on me about today's music...as if I personally have something to do with it? Was she just having a bad day, and that was her outlet? If that is the case, I am glad I could be her punching bag, and she didn't have to unleash on someone else who might have been in a fragile state.
So, now, more than ever I am trying to be the positive light in someone's day. :) When they are laying in bed at night, recapping their day, I want to be the memory that makes them smile, just a little, even if I couldn't make cranky lady smile. I am also reminded of good old kid president, who said "even if hate has a blow horn, love is louder". So let's all just get along. :) Here's a pep talk that will make you want to get out there, and do good...because life is hard, and that's okay, we are all in it together, to help each other out, and get thru it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5-EwrhsMzY (I know its 4 minutes long, but TOTALLY worth it.)
Signed: ME {AT}
And then there is always T Swift's song "Mean - why you gotta be so mean" which runs through my head often during these types of encounters :-)
Posted by: Jill | October 28, 2015 at 07:01 AM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jYa1eI1hpDE
Posted by: Jill | October 28, 2015 at 07:13 AM