Hand Shake

So as a cashier I get to meet a LOT of different people. I try not to categorize them, but when you perform over 300 transactions per shift, it gets kinda hard to avoid generalizing. So lately I've found myself categorizing people into one of two groups: "Aw, So Nice :)" and "Hmm, Okay Then..."

The "Aw, So Nice" kind of customers smile at you, respond to small chat, and are "present" (awake and responding appropriately to stimuli around them). The "Hmm, Okay Then" type of customers don't acknowledge that you are also a thinking human being, don't respond to "How are you"'s, and may even be a bit paranoid ("You're just trying to steal mah moneh!").

Now, I know how this may come across to many people, but I've been noticing a disconcerting trend of there being waaaaayyy more females in the "Nice" category, and more males in the "Okay Then" category. BUT, this makes it even nicer when I get a male customer who IS nice :) And I'm not saying it's super rare to get a nice guy customer, cuz out of 300+ transactions, I still get quite a few nice guys in the line. But ANYHOO...

Today, one man stood out in my memory as a surprisingly nice customer. It was a small thing that he did that stayed imprinted on my neural pathways: he shook my hand. This literally never happens (until now I guess). I was surprised by how complimented I was by this gesture. I was just getting him a dotcom order that he'd had shipped to the store, and after he filled out the paperwork and I told him he was good to go, he smiled, put his hand out, and said "Thank you." Luckily I'm used to shaking hands at church, so it didn't end up being awkward, but I realized in that moment what handshakes mean to me. They convey a certain comradery, a new level of appreciation and acceptance. I don't know. Physical touch is an awesome thing. A whole other level of communication. And I appreciated it :)

Happy Times

So here are some highlights from the last couple of weeks:

• Yesterday I got an awesome compliment from one of my managers at (store-work-place), saying that I sold the most protection plans out of everybody, including the tech people! Usually the techs get the most, because the protection plans are just for technology products, and since they work in the tech department and I'm just a cashier, it makes sense that they would get more. But this time I did! XD I also found out that lately I've been getting the highest Rewards-penetration percentage, and I'm one of the best at selling our current savings pass!

• A really nice customer I was ringing up asked me if I was a teacher. I said "No, though I do enjoy teaching. Why do you ask?" And she responded, "Well you just seem so confident and responsible, like you really know what you're doing, even if you don't!" (she added this after looking at my "In Training" name-tag) She's so nice! I love nice customers! XD

• Our Store Manager was super happy that I asked questions about the store's ROV goals, and after edumacating me on it, even had me "instruct" one of our other manager's on it XD

• Saw one of my childhood friends at work and ringed him up at the register. Fun!

•   Got some free time after work one day to go window shopping at the mall and try on all kinds of cute clothes!

• Been eating a lot more fruit lately, which is makes me happy :)

• Got to read some chapters from the Book of Mormon with friends over Google+ Hangout :D

• A praying mantis landed on my face... and then I took pictures of it X)

• Saved 3 kittens from my van's engine. I hope they had a fun ride down the road before I heard them meowing @.@ Silly kittens, engines are not a good place to hang out!

The Girl Who Remembered

I've been working at a little children's clothing boutique in a mall nearby for a few months, and while I've experienced some pleasant and unpleasant things during my time there so far, there is one occasion that I will remember forever:

  
So there I was, just cleaning up the store, performing the never-ending task of folding clothes, when I notice that a little girl has been standing in front of me, unmoving, for about 3 minutes. I look up, and she beams at me, and seems to be waiting for me to say something. I smile at her and say “Hi, how are you doing?” She smiles shyly at me and kind of fidgets with her hands and asks “Do you remember me?” Before a look of confusion can even register on my face, her mother appears out of nowhere (as they are wont to do) and explains that they had been in the store a couple of days ago, and that I had helped them select the dress that the little girl was currently wearing. I looked at the girl's dress, and miracle of miracles, I remembered helping them! I said “Oh yes! I remember you! That dress is so cute on you!”

The beaming smile that lit up that girl's face will be with me forever and ever :)
The fact that I'd apparently made such an impression on her, that she not only recognized me but also wanted to meet me again, was so very sweet and special to me :)

FIRST!!1!

Every once in a while I'll read 3 Nephi 20:40, which reads: "And then shall they say: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings unto them of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!" And every time I read it, I feel prompted to start a blog. A blog about joy. About blessings. A blog about my crazy life!