Exceeding expectations..
Early into my shift one day last week I had a customer walk through the door wearing a white tee with the sleeves ripped off, very baggy light coloured cargo pants, a shaved head and a rather monsterous look in his eyes. Eyebrow piercing may have been included. He's caught my gaze as he's walking towards the menswear section and is downright deathstaring me. I've let my eyes wash over him appearing nothing more than faintly interested at the prospect of a customer and return to dusting my registers, but really thinking, "Oh great, it's not even nine-thirty and someone's in here about to flog our shit.", amongst other relatively subconscious thoughts of putting this man down for his style of dress and demeanur and overall being.
Sometime later, the thought of him erased from my mind to be taken place with sorting out clothes and hangers, serving customers, taking way to many telephone calls for so early in the day, I notice that he's lined up behind my current customer. I make a point not to look at him until I'm finished serving, after which he walks up to my desk and breaks into a smile as he places down his soon to be purchases.
"Hi!", he says, still smiling. "How's your morning going?"
Not one to miss a beat, I'm already smiling and chatting away about how it's been busy, which is awesome because it feels like I'll get home early, and that his Astro Boy boxer shorts are only $2.
"Yeah!" he replies. "I noticed that, what a bargain!"
More smiles. When I'm finished and I've handed him the bag, he tells me that he hopes I have a great day and walks off, pausing only to inspect a black rubber duck wearing a red spikey collar before exiting the door, the paper Tradies bag swinging by his side.
I can't remember the last time someone exceeded my expectations of them. And although this might sound terrible to some, it doesn't make me ashamed of my first impressions. I was wrong, but those thoughts are already gone, replaced by the warming personality of this stranger. I'm so thankful for him. I wonder how he would feel knowing that he is unknown to me but for this brief snippet of him that I was blessed to experience, and already it's making me feel, making me think.
Sometime later, the thought of him erased from my mind to be taken place with sorting out clothes and hangers, serving customers, taking way to many telephone calls for so early in the day, I notice that he's lined up behind my current customer. I make a point not to look at him until I'm finished serving, after which he walks up to my desk and breaks into a smile as he places down his soon to be purchases.
"Hi!", he says, still smiling. "How's your morning going?"
Not one to miss a beat, I'm already smiling and chatting away about how it's been busy, which is awesome because it feels like I'll get home early, and that his Astro Boy boxer shorts are only $2.
"Yeah!" he replies. "I noticed that, what a bargain!"
More smiles. When I'm finished and I've handed him the bag, he tells me that he hopes I have a great day and walks off, pausing only to inspect a black rubber duck wearing a red spikey collar before exiting the door, the paper Tradies bag swinging by his side.
I can't remember the last time someone exceeded my expectations of them. And although this might sound terrible to some, it doesn't make me ashamed of my first impressions. I was wrong, but those thoughts are already gone, replaced by the warming personality of this stranger. I'm so thankful for him. I wonder how he would feel knowing that he is unknown to me but for this brief snippet of him that I was blessed to experience, and already it's making me feel, making me think.