I am going to start this post with a virtual scream….arghhhhhhhhh!!!!! I have wanted to actually do that, at the top of my considerable lungs, long and pained, all day.  It doesn’t make me feel any better typing that, but it probably saves my voice, and the ears of my pets and neighbours, and likely keeps the RCMP, who are  two doors down, from showing up here.  That would just be the icing on a rather tasteless cake for certain.  I have had my fill of negativity, the last two days, work-wise, and rather than give in to it, I am going to subject you to it, instead.  Aren’t I just too kind? You do, however, have the choice to continue reading, or bolt, but I am sure I will find a way to entertain you, should you decide to go with the former.

I work in sales.  To be more specific, I approach people in lower end groceries stores, and offer them a credit card.  Funny that I explain it that way, because if someone ever asks me what I am “selling”, I always tell them, I’m not selling them anything, I want to “give” them something, currently a free bag of cookies, and $20.00 in FREE groceries -heavy emphasis on the capitalized word right there – FREE! People are generally attracted to anything they get for free, although, more than one elderly person has told me nobody gets anything for nothing, to which I always have a great comeback.  Part of my success in this job, is that I can talk to anyone, and make anyone trust me enough to pull out their government issued ID, and offer an answer to any of their objections, IF they let me get a word in edgewise.  The problem the last two days has been, I can barely get out the phrase, hi, how are you today?  I am walking up to people and hearing no no no, I am not interested, or I don’t want anything, or better still, I am getting the hand.  I hate THAT more than anything, well except maybe the customers who listen and say okay, all the way through my pitch, at every opening, then tell me no, after getting my hopes up, or better still, the ones who want the card, but left their ID in the car/van/other purse/etc.

If I have learned anything, in all my years of sales, it is not to take things personally.  I have no idea what’s going on in anyone’s life when they are short with me, or even downright nasty.  I know that people are, usually, not saying no to me, they are saying no to my offer.  That being said, and being the logic of the situation, when it is repeatedly, over and over and over, it starts to grate on anyone’s nerves, and it makes the smile I have to offer the next person, just a tiny bit dimmer.  When a store is busy, and potential customers are whizzing by me at a steady pace, and not one will let me even start my spiel, I have to admit, I get angry.  How hard is it to acknowledge a person who has spoken to you?  If you say no thank you, I will, because it is my job, make one more attempt to throw something out there, but if you, then tell me no, again, I am going to wish you a good day, and move on.  I have a great sixth sense, I know exactly who I can push a tiny bit harder, without upsetting them.  I can read expressions, body language and tone, better than most, and I use it to my advantage.  People never walk anyway from me feeling they have be pressured, or coerced into anything, and I take pride in that.  I have never lied to make a sale. And I am always, pleasant, until someone walks away.  What  I mean by that is, if you have been rude to me, you probably got my famous eye-roll, or a snarky, unintelligible, under my breath, comment.  One day that will bite me, because someone will turn around and catch me, I’m sure, but, until then, it’s what keeps me sane.

I think, the last couple of days have been exceedingly trying for me, because my youngest grandson was here.  You may wonder what one thing has to do with the other, but if you ever had much of an interaction with this little guy, at four and a half, you would quickly understand where a good many adults could take a lesson from him.  He is the politest kid you will ever meet.  He never forgets his please, thank you, or no thank you.  His abundance of manners, makes anyone’s lack of them, glaringly obvious.  There’s also the fact that, the longer it took me to get my quotas, the less time I had to spend with him.

I have a theory.  I believe that anyone who shops, eats out, goes to clubs, or indulges in any activity that requires another human being to be of service to them, should have to spend at least a week or two, in one of those professions.  I think it would open a lot of people’s minds, and eyes to see exactly how poorly some treat others.  Everyone should realize, that we all have jobs to do, to pay the bills and feed our families.  Sometimes my job may seem like it’s an inconvenience to you, but I really only want the opportunity, to give you the opportunity, to make a bit of an informed decision, about what the company I work for is offering.  If you really aren’t interested, after I take ninety seconds to explain, a simple no thank you, would be much more appreciated than ignoring me, walking away from me, shushing me, or plain out being rude.  I would give anyone the exact same courtesy.