Checking out peace and joy and holiday season and thank you for that

IT’S A “THANKLESS JOB” —BUT ITDOESN’T HAVE TO BE

One of the keys to any effort to seek peace and joy almost requires gratitude.  As we go racing toward “black friday it is important to know that.  A group of people are being undervalued and underpaid a lot and that’s the front line retail staff, cashiers, cooks, etc.  I’m writing this. post to encourage  each of us to  say a genuine thank you to these individuals who will be overworked.and underpaid this coming week.  The cashiers didn’t design the  sales or the stores so that long lines are unavoidable.  The “greeter” really does want the shopper to have a great in-store experience.  Cooks and wait staff have far less control over supplies and scheduling over the holidays so remember you are eating out for the experience of enjoying a meal with others, not and an “efficient” use of time.

each year the “Black Friday mayhem, which is designed to interrupt your peace and joy seems to be expanding and we are  driven to get it while it lasts because it’s a “door buster”. Of a sale.  That reminds me, I might get some  training in door repair next spring with all the door busting that happens, I could pick up some extra holiday cash.   

I’m going to keep this brief because I write often about  the use of my/your time, but I do want to ask this question.  When you are sitting in your “present circle” or at the dinner table during the Thanksgiving or Christmas season does anyone ever ask: “Hey Bill—I bought your gift in 9 minutes, how long did it take you to get mine?”  Does anyone ever say, no. No. No. I don’t want any more of that turkey because you spent 49 cents a pound for it, I only want the 33 cents a pound white meat?  Do you think that every  retailer and service provider ghas a big closed-door (before they get busted)  meeting to identify exactly  whose customer  treatment they are going fall down on and therefore this is happening  to you with some sort of intent? What makes you feel like you are being singled out or picked on?  

So to sum up, I’m saying  thank you to the sales clerks, the cashiers, the cooks, the wait staff, and all who find themselves getting  no more pay, but a lot more stress and are expected to  make all my Christmases be bright!  So when they say “thanks” to you ax’s you leave their line...put your hand up and say—-No! Let me thank you.  Instead of  tapping on the table or the counter impatiently, hum the holiday song on the in-store music system—unless it’s  “a New Kids on the Block Holiday Albumn—or Boxcar Willie and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir hum the Nutcracker—even Ihavesome limits.   Let Peace (and Joy) On Earth begin with how we treat those  who serve.

It doesn’t take secret Santa to know that if you  give some peace and joy you will get some back in a very meaningful way

Teach your children or grandchildren  to put a coin or two in the  bucket when you hear the bell ring...maybe  the sound will become Pavlovian and every time  this youth hears that sound they will think of the. Goodness you  give them and expect them to share?  Wouldn’t that be.a great gift and a lasting memory even if you can’t afford $15.99 for  this year’s Hallmark Ornament?  

Thanks  for reading... I’m helping someone move tomorrow  so pray that I get a sore back and break something and you will learn that your prayers will be answered...thinking about. That makes me smile so tomorrow take a moment to figure out how you will smile at a clerk, a cook, or a mail carrier in the coming weeks....Peace