Late Saturday night (and into early Sunday morning), we were at Chili’s in a tiny little East Texas town, having a rollicking time with a wild bunch of new friends.
Our waiter sucked.
I understand that it was a tiny town. I get that Pace and I were likely the first vegetarians he’d ever met. I know we’re freaky and we were loud and it was likely overwhelming to have such a large group – and it was nearly closing time, so I’m sure he’d had a long day.
I took all of that into account, and still. Our waiter sucked.
He was pleasant enough. He was even cute… and vaguely reminiscent of someone I’d seen before. But he was incompetent and a poor listener – and in a service-based job, you’ve got to be competent and a good listener, so the odds were stacked against him.
Pace ordered a black bean burger, straight off the menu. I ordered a sandwich, and substituted the meat for a portobello mushroom cap – an option that was clearly listed on the menu in the sandwich section.
We were both served big honkin’ beef patties.
We sent them back.
He brought Pace’s out correctly the second time. Mine had the portobello mushroom cap, but it was on top of the beef patty. At that point, I ditched the sandwich and opted for just fries. Frankly, being served a huge slab of beef twice in a row had limited my appetite substantially, and I wasn’t in the mood to try and explain my desire again. So I ate my spinach and artichoke dip and my fries and was content enough.
Hungry yet?
After he brought out our checks, I stood to go to the bathroom and he stopped me. He apologized. He said, “I’m not very good at my job.”
I asked, “Well, do you like it?”
He looked down and said, “No. I hate it.”
I said, “Oh! Well! Do something else! Follow your heart!”
He said, “Yeah, well, I have to pay my bills first.”
I said, “Yeah, but your heart can help with that, too.” He looked unconvinced, my bladder reasserted its demands, and we went our separate ways.
When I sat back down, I reviewed my check. He’d dropped both burgers off the bill. I sat there for a minute, then tipped him $10 and wrote follow your heart! (: on the ticket.
If you hate your job, get out. Find a way. Take a leap of faith. Pray, dream big, imagine, believe. Follow your heart. If there’s anything I’m learning these days, it’s that life is far too short and far too precious to do anything less.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Indeed.
Wonderful story. :)
.-= Charlotte´s last blog ..Entrepreneur Juice. (or: How Malcolm Gladwell Gave Me My Business Back) =-.
What a great way to turn around a bad situation! I hope he takes your advice.
.-= Mary McRae´s last blog ..Home =-.
Sounds like he has the memory of a lifetime.
.-= Hayden Tompkins´s last blog ..How to Get Organized =-.
I wish someone had said things like that to me a LONG time ago… I am still struggling with how to do this…
.-= BunnyKissd´s last blog ..Thought provoking quotes =-.
It’s awesome that you were able to let go of the annoyance with him enough to SEE him. That is very inspiring to me.
*hugs*
That’s probably the best tip he’s ever had, both in terms of money AND advice. You rock!
This story is vaguely familiar to my own. That could have been me…but in my story I worked in a high end steak house and was very good at my job….but still hated it and felt like I needed to stay there because I made so much money.
I was miserable and kinda bitchy because I felt so trapped .
Crazy enough I went to Burningman and in a strange moment of displaced clarity I decided to say “fuck it” and become a life coach. ( There is more to the story concerning how I am actually qualified to be a life coach…but this is the cut down version)
Making the shift was scary and at times I was not sure how I was going to make it work, BUT my life began to shift as soon as I made the choice to put my heart and happiness above my fear of the unknown.
.-= Leah/DefytheBox´s last blog ..What To Do When They Drive You F@%$ Crazy? =-.
Brilliant!
I LOL’d.
Well-played, portabello fucker.
.-= Johnny B. Truant´s last blog ..Four reasons why thinking you have problems actually just means you’re a pussy =-.
Wait… where’s the pie-fucking?
Great story! :)
.-= Michael Martine´s last blog ..Why You Are Not A Service Provider =-.
The clarity to see through to someone’s true needs is a very rare skill. Most of us can acquire it, but few do. Bravo for using it so graciously.
.-= Karinne´s last blog ..Last week was: a long breath out (the Yay! edition) =-.
I don’t understand the pie-fucker part.
It’s too bad he couldn’t see the benefit of following his heart and the money will come. I would like to believe that a richness of spirit and finance would follow suit, but I think most ppl find it to be too much of a gamble. It’s the difference btwn feeding the soul and feeding the body. That’s a tough choice!
And, oh, call me dense but I don’t get the pie-fucker part either:-(
.-= Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last blog ..HouseCraft: Illuminate Your World from the Inside Out =-.
The “pie-fucker” bit is a reference to Jason Biggs’ (our waiter’s lookalike) famous scene in American Pie .
Of course he would get *us*! We’re a jubilant pack of societal rebels more interested in our hearts & passions than economic expectations. You gave that waiter good medicine. *nods happily*
btw, I enjoyed the potato soup.. that I didn’t order. ;)
.-= Lynnivere´s last blog ..hazards of denial =-.
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