Kindness Just Might Go a Long Way

The Split Second-In Consideration of Others in These Trying Times

There are days when I simply live life and suddenly, the whole notion of my unpublished book The Split Second:  In Consideration of Others or Look Up from the Phone and How to Deal with Rudeness in Others is displayed right in front of me. I tend to say to myself or even out loud sometimes, “Aha! That’s it!”

I would like to think my book is about civility, and not so much about etiquette although I have had some folks immediately assume the book is entirely about etiquette. In my mind’s eye, the first rule about civility is not to look down on others or show any snobbishness or feelings of superiority. Yesterday, I luncheoned at Denny’s Diner in Pasadena. My waitress (I still use the terms “waiter” and ‘waitress” instead of ‘server”) was a very lovely lady and I am sure she still is today as I write this. We set a very friendly tone which made me very happy. At one point, she let me know that she was going on her break and asked me if I needed anything. I replied, “Not at all, and please have a wonderful time on your break.” I was reading a book (I am told this is rare in restaurants these days) which kept me at Denny’s a while longer. The lovely waitress returned, and I asked her, “How was your break? Did you have a good time?” She let me know that she had had a wonderful break, and then said some very golden words to me: “You made my day.” This made me feel good inside, and I thanked her. In my opinion, this is how restaurant staff members and customers should interact.

I have seen and even been with people who as customers in a restaurant are all too demanding, unpleasant, or just plain rude to restaurant staff members. I have seen teenagers snap their fingers to get a waiter’s/waitress’ attention. My own father would call out “Miss, Miss!” in a derogatory way while our family was seated in a restaurant, and we would “call him out” on his behavior. “The Split Second” advocates being pleasant with restaurant staff and striving for a very pleasant occasion. After all, they are human beings just like the rest of us. And if the service is rude in your mind’s eye, I suggest you find the nicest way to bring that concern to the manager and not be an impolite customer. Most times in life it is best to take “the higher road.”

Are these blogs still short enough, folks?