Desiderata and Kindness from Strangers
It is hard to keep up with the word of the day when I don't write in my journal every day, but I will try:
desideratum \dih-sid-uh-RAY-tum; -RAH-\, noun;
plural desiderata:
Something desired or considered necessary.
This word of the day reminds me of the Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. It is a great philosphy on how to live peacefully. Here it is:
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Last night I made my biggest tip ever! Just a mere $40, but it was from a table of high school students, which really surprised me. It seems that many high school students, because of lack of money, don't leave a decent tip, drink water, and don't order much food. So, what happens is they bring down my beverage percentage (count), my guest check average (GCA), and tip percentage (though I feel I give good service). I felt that I was behind on all of my tables tonight and every one was waiting. I cashed out all the teens from this table of eight, who had separate checks, and there was one left. I said to the group as they were walking out the door that there was still one order left. They said it was on the table with the tip and a note. I went and found $40, which shocked me and put a smile on my face for 10 minutes. I didn't want to tell any other employees for fear of making them jealous, so I acted as though I didn't get any good tips. It was such a surprise. The note said "Dear Ma'am, Thank you putting up with us cheap whipper snappers. I appreciate your good service. Hopefully this shows that. If not, then the tip will. Thank you a lot. Goodnight and God bless. :)" Wow. I'm amazed. I remember kindness from strangers. It gives me heart sparkles and makes me remember that there is still good in humans. That is hard to remember, when people break your trust. I am kind towards strangers when they're in need (and I don't see a threat to my well-being).
I was kind to a stranger just yesterday night. A nice old woman came in to Denny's Restaurant last night. She wasn't my customer, but I found out that she had missed the Kitsap Transporter from the Sea-Tac airport that would take her to her home in Tacoma. Someone told her to hop on a bus and it would take her to Tacoma, but the last stop was in Federal Way at the transit center near my Denny's Restaurant. She said that she would wait until the buses came, but she wasn't sure what buses to take. I offered to call her a taxi, but she refused. I think she didn't have enough money for it. I asked if she had someone to call and she did have a daughter, but she didn't want to wake her daughter early in the morning, when her daughter has work at 8 am and kids. I could understand, but under those circumstances I would wake up my daughter if I was in a bit of trouble. Who wants to wait for five hours to catch a bus that would take 2 or 3 hours? I didn't understand, but let her be. I searched through the phone book with her for the Pierce Country Transit number. When that didn't work, I searched on the internet on my phone. I used King County Metro's Online Trip Planner to plot out her bus route. She would have to catch three buses and walk about a mile. I showed her the itinerary and said, "or you can wait until I get off at 6:30 am and I can take you home." I didn't want this old woman walking and taking three buses, when she just got off an airplane and was exhausted from traveling and walking. I drove for about an hour and a half to Tacoma and back during morning traffic. We got lost, but I stopped at another Denny's Restaurant (a bit ironic) and asked how to get to another Denny's Restaurant near her home. She didn't know how to get to her house from I-5, because she rarely drives. She asked if I needed gas and I said I was alright. I didn't require anything in return. Finally, at the end of the trip, I found out her name was Lynn. Perhaps the $40 tip was some good karma returning to me.
desideratum \dih-sid-uh-RAY-tum; -RAH-\, noun;
plural desiderata:
Something desired or considered necessary.
This word of the day reminds me of the Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. It is a great philosphy on how to live peacefully. Here it is:
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Last night I made my biggest tip ever! Just a mere $40, but it was from a table of high school students, which really surprised me. It seems that many high school students, because of lack of money, don't leave a decent tip, drink water, and don't order much food. So, what happens is they bring down my beverage percentage (count), my guest check average (GCA), and tip percentage (though I feel I give good service). I felt that I was behind on all of my tables tonight and every one was waiting. I cashed out all the teens from this table of eight, who had separate checks, and there was one left. I said to the group as they were walking out the door that there was still one order left. They said it was on the table with the tip and a note. I went and found $40, which shocked me and put a smile on my face for 10 minutes. I didn't want to tell any other employees for fear of making them jealous, so I acted as though I didn't get any good tips. It was such a surprise. The note said "Dear Ma'am, Thank you putting up with us cheap whipper snappers. I appreciate your good service. Hopefully this shows that. If not, then the tip will. Thank you a lot. Goodnight and God bless. :)" Wow. I'm amazed. I remember kindness from strangers. It gives me heart sparkles and makes me remember that there is still good in humans. That is hard to remember, when people break your trust. I am kind towards strangers when they're in need (and I don't see a threat to my well-being).
I was kind to a stranger just yesterday night. A nice old woman came in to Denny's Restaurant last night. She wasn't my customer, but I found out that she had missed the Kitsap Transporter from the Sea-Tac airport that would take her to her home in Tacoma. Someone told her to hop on a bus and it would take her to Tacoma, but the last stop was in Federal Way at the transit center near my Denny's Restaurant. She said that she would wait until the buses came, but she wasn't sure what buses to take. I offered to call her a taxi, but she refused. I think she didn't have enough money for it. I asked if she had someone to call and she did have a daughter, but she didn't want to wake her daughter early in the morning, when her daughter has work at 8 am and kids. I could understand, but under those circumstances I would wake up my daughter if I was in a bit of trouble. Who wants to wait for five hours to catch a bus that would take 2 or 3 hours? I didn't understand, but let her be. I searched through the phone book with her for the Pierce Country Transit number. When that didn't work, I searched on the internet on my phone. I used King County Metro's Online Trip Planner to plot out her bus route. She would have to catch three buses and walk about a mile. I showed her the itinerary and said, "or you can wait until I get off at 6:30 am and I can take you home." I didn't want this old woman walking and taking three buses, when she just got off an airplane and was exhausted from traveling and walking. I drove for about an hour and a half to Tacoma and back during morning traffic. We got lost, but I stopped at another Denny's Restaurant (a bit ironic) and asked how to get to another Denny's Restaurant near her home. She didn't know how to get to her house from I-5, because she rarely drives. She asked if I needed gas and I said I was alright. I didn't require anything in return. Finally, at the end of the trip, I found out her name was Lynn. Perhaps the $40 tip was some good karma returning to me.