Is it just me, or does it seem that the level of service has just gone downhill over the last little while?  Oh my, could it be that I’m just getting old?  That’s something people in the second half of their century of life say.  I take it back, let me start over.
 
Is it me, or are kids these days just not as customer service oriented as we used to be when we were younger?
 
Nope, that doesn’t sound any better.
 
So, we went to the Apple store yesterday so I could surprise my husband for our Anniversary.  The gentleman who assisted us was great, very knowledgeable, friendly, gave us good options, and set us on our way to transfer all the data which would take about 20 minutes.  He informed us to just grab another person when it was complete to erase the old phone before leaving.
 
Then we encountered what we shall term, “who asked you for your personal opinion” gal.  Now I get it, I may have been a tab rude when I stated that getting a block with a new phone should be included to see the response.  And when I called her out for giving ‘the company line’ she wasn’t having any of it.  But for her to say that she personally preferred that and condescendingly then speaking to us after that?  Um, no.  You are in customer service, and you check your attitude at the door.
 
Now this blog today isn’t about her attitude, but rather about forgiveness and gratitude…I know, I know, get to it then.
 
Gratitude that during this pandemic we are splurging on such an extravagance…. I get it.
 
The forgiveness comes from not sending the email and shredding her to her superiors which would be my normal course of action.  Was it deserved?  Hell yes.  But instead I chose to show some mercy, rather than exact vengeance.  Who knows what she was going through that day?  And what did it cost me besides getting my pride ruffled a bit because I was trying to be the big shot and possibly weasel a free charging block out of the deal in front of my hubby.
 
But here’s the rub, in my mind, despite forgiving, it still rattled in my brain, and I had the ‘opportunity’ to dream about it overnight.  Not directly, but metaphorically.  So, I had a chance to forgive all over again.
 
I share with you not to disparage this gal at the Apple store, but rather to ask that this holiday season, maybe we can all be a little more thankful for what we have…and be a little more forgiving as we don’t know what others may be challenged with when we encounter them.

Wanna know why I didn’t say ‘inhale’?  Because a friggin pandemic is going on people!!  LOL.  But seriously, can we all just take a step back, take a breath, and let the temperature come down about three thousand degrees? 

The election is over, the votes have been counted, and it’s time we all got on with the business of being ONE human race.  Being kind to one another, listening a bit more and shouting at one another less.  Finding something in common with those across the aisle, street, or country, rather than lobbing verbal grenades to incite a response.

Take a breath.

This has been undoubtedly the strangest of my 49 years on the planet earth and I’m sure you all can join me in saying that I’m not exaggerating the term ‘unprecedented’ when describing 2020.  So can we all just take a moment this holiday season (can’t be believe I just used that phrase, will blame my spouse for starting in with the Christmas music already, lol) and remember it’s a time for giving: of our hearts, of ourselves, and maybe, just maybe, a bit of forgiveness to others for what they may have said or done.

Take a breath.

​We need some healing.  As individuals.  As a nation.  As a world.  But it starts with each of us, as individuals.  Just one person at a time.  Won’t you join me?