A Large Double Double and a Little Respect Please
Posted: Wednesday, November 16, 2011
by Brianna Popsickle
“May I help you?” the woman behind the counter asked cheerfully.
“Large double double and a large with just milk,” the customer grunted back.
I was third in a long line of sleepy people in need of their first coffee of the day.
The customer was handed the coffee, looked down and growled, “You didn’t mark them. How am I supposed to tell which is which?”
As the irritated customer left, the next person stepped ahead in line.
“Good morning, what can I get you?” the woman behind the counter smiled, somehow unruffled by the verbal exchange a moment ago. She greeted me the same way and added, “Have a nice day,” as I left.
An hour later I was sitting in ‘beauty’ class learning about the latest moisturizers and wrinkle creams on the market. I looked at the other women in the room. Despite the fact you needed a degree in chemistry to understand much of what was being said, the women around me seemed genuinely interested.
The instructor began to demonstrate on a volunteer’s hand, how we could introduce the product to our clients with a hand massage. She ran her hands from the girl’s fingers to her wrist.
“Always work upwards,” she said joyfully adding, “We always work towards the heart.”
I looked around to see if anyone else was smiling. Was she serious? I didn’t get it.
I leaned over to a co-worker and said, “And to think somewhere, right now, someone is discovering a cure for cancer.”
She didn’t get it.
A week later I was attending another class. This time I perked up when the instructor told us about a product used to cover scars, blemishes, tattoos, etc. Apparently it was used in a Lady GaGa video in which a man wiped his face, then body, with a cloth, slowly revealing a full body tattoo underneath.
This product was truly amazing. You would never have suspected he had a tattoo. That interested me. Almost daily, I have clients coming to me with skin imperfections they’re desperate to hide.
A few days after attending the class, a girl in her twenties came into the boutique where I work. She was with her boyfriend. When I asked if I could help her with anything she said she was looking for a cover-up.
I immediately showed her the one I’d learned about in class and told her about the man in the video. I showed her another similar product, which was very good as well. She said she’d continue to look.
Moments later I noticed she’d sent her boyfriend out of the boutique. She came up to me and asked quietly, “Can you help me?”
She seemed very sad. She said she’d tried everything and nothing could hide the red blotches on her face.
We were alone in the boutique so I asked her if she’d allow me to remove her makeup.
Hesitantly, she agreed.
I gave her a cotton ball and makeup remover and she began to pat her face. Red blotches began to appear, just as she’d described.
I could tell how much it affected her and her self-esteem.
We discussed skincare products that could help soothe her skin, and then I asked if she’d let me try something.
I reached for the product I’d heard about days earlier. I applied it to half her face. While I was applying it, she seemed nervous and kept asking me if it was working. She was reluctant to look in the mirror when I finished.
When she finally looked in the mirror, her eyes filled with tears. She put her hand to her face and said, “Oh my God. I love it!”
She kept touching her face and looking in the mirror. I teared up, and offered to retouch the other half of her face.
When she left she was smiling and had a confidence about her she hadn’t had earlier.
Suddenly I got it.
I thought of the woman behind the counter at the coffee shop days earlier. I thought of how early she’d probably gotten up that day to serve coffee to people on their way to work, some who would be earning five times what she was being paid. I thought of how rude the customer had been to her and how she had kept smiling despite them. I thought of how she’d made an impression on me, and probably many others whom she served coffee to each day.
How many times had I heard people joke about those who worked at the coffee shop? How many times had I heard someone out of work lament there were no jobs, unless they’d be willing to work at a job they felt was beneath them?
That kind of attitude annoys me so much. Several times I’d wanted to say, “You couldn’t do their job!” I know I couldn’t.
Suddenly I realized I’d been just as judgmental with the other women in the beauty classes I attended. I thought of us as a group of women, who for whatever reason, had landed in insignificant jobs that made no difference whatsoever in the grand scheme of things.
I was so wrong.
The moment the young girl looked in the mirror and smiled at what she saw, I got it.
It isn’t about your ‘title’, the job you do, or how much you’re paid.
Whether you’re serving coffee, selling cosmetics or discovering a cure for cancer, it’s the affect you have on the lives of those who cross your path each day that matters. That’s what gives you your ‘worth’. That’s what makes getting up each day and going to work worthwhile.
Although I may need reminding of this from time to time, finally, I really do get it.
Like everything in life, it’s not so much about what you do, but how you do it. It’s about what you put in to it.
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More commentsA great touching story with so much truth. Thanks for the lesson. One more thing, you may want to explain to your American and International readers what a 'double, double' is. I'm sure this is a truly Canadian expression.That's funny you should suggest that Dave as I did pause while writing and wondered if everyone would 'get' the double-double thing. It is a coffee with double cream and double sugar. Do you know I once heard someone order a 4 x 4. I was thinking what the heck is that, so I asked them. It was an extra large coffee with (if you can imagine) 4 cream and 4 sugar. Whew! Thanks for reading and commenting David, I appreciate it.
I wish everyone could live their lives this way, taking into mind the effect that they have on others:) It could be the first step to world peace :)... and their own peace of mind. Nice to hear from you Tharuna. Thanks for reading and for your comment.
Love the article Brianna, I needed to hear this today. Our mission field is not always "doing" missions work it is in our every day life. My thoughts on things.... DanniI whole-heartedly agree with your thoughts on this Danni. I"m glad you saw the story, if it's what you needed today. That has happened to me as well,many times while reading on Wrytestuff. I come across an article written as though it was specifically for me. This community is good for the soul. :)
Brianna, it's so divine to read something of yours, and this has given me goosebumps - which is par for the course with you! :) Your honesty is so refreshing. And I'm sure you've changed that young girl's life.I don't know about changing her life, but I know it made her day. (mine too). Nice to hear from you Jennifer. I have a lot of reading here to catch up on and as always, yours will be top on the list to read.
Brianna!
This is a wonderful piece. Thank you so much for writing and sharing it!You're welcome Jean. And thank you for choosing it as your pick of the day. Nice! :)
I got it.
I worked at Timmy`s at 63, along with the other seniors who work there; I worked at a busy one, off of the highway. If others really knew how fast & efficent you have to be ... customers should be smiling at us!
Liked the whole concept of your story, well done.So you knew what a Double Double was Jessie! I remember when I 'd go to get coffee for all of us at the office and have to write it down or I'd forget. I was always impressed with how the person could hear the order once and remember it. You're right, they should be smiling at you!
It's a crying shame that American women have culturally aligned "glamor", contrived, airbrushed, artificial -makeup-"beauty", with love; an American man always culturally says,"You're gorgeous!", before he says,"I love you!".
Women thus wrongly believe that if "beauty" fades, then love must also fade.
Off to the beauty parlor and boob jobs and beauty classes, they run fearful and deceived.
This was a wondrously well written missive, anecdotes true and hard, about women afraid of losing love and about others' gifted dispositions towards finding meaning in life, while serving others.Nicely done!
I salute you!
Affection,
Paul
Beauty is only skin-deep, but unfortunately not everyone believes that. I've had very young girls sit in a chair and ask for a makeover, I've told them they are beautiful as they are and refused to apply anything. It makes me sad when a woman spends a weeks worth of grocery money, on a jar of cream that she thinks will make her look twenty years younger. It's their decision in the end. Although some purchase it to seek or keep the love of a man, many are looking to love themselves again. If it makes them feel good, then that's great. But really? It's sad. Thanks for reading Paul. I can always count on you.
Enjoyed the article very much! A good reminder to check ourselves first before judging others.I"m glad you enjoyed it Krista. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Also thanks for joining my fan club.
Hi Brianna.
You have a flair for telling an entertaining story and also making a point. Gentle lessons.
But I did think it was sad that young woman was so concerned about her complexion. I've been trying to come to terms with my complexion for years now. And I've actually gotten to the point where I don't go into a complete tailspin if someone I know sees me without my makeup or my hair neatly arranged. Now if I could just find peace with sagging skin and bags under my eyes and wrinkles. Oh my! :)
Thanks for a great story!
Hugs,
DianneThey have something (actually many things) for sagging skin and bags under the eyes. Men are starting to purchase these products as well. 'Oh my' is right. What ever happened to grow old gracefully? If we could just all agree to do it together. :) Thanks for reading and for the comment Dianne!
Exactly right. I've been saying similar things but you really expressed it just perfectly. Awesome article.Thanks Heidi. I appreciate you reading and taking time to comment. :)
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