Coffee Order (Small acts of kindness)

 Being a barista, you tend to remember your regulars by their coffee order not their name. Small encounters throughout the day can pass you by like nothing. Asking someone how their day is going or simply saying hello at the window with a smile can improve someone’s day. Sometimes these small encounters are the only encounters someone is receiving all day. I haven’t always acknowledged this working in customer service. But the longer I have worked at a coffee shop the more I have become friends with my regular customers. I have fun encounters with customers who ask me about my life, and it makes my job so much better. I have had moms show me their daughters prom dresses, I have been offered random second jobs, I have been told by little girls that I’m pretty and that’s what makes my job enjoyable. Nobody wants to work but I don’t know what I would do without those encounters throughout the day that make me smile. 

I had this one regular customer, a mom (16 oz iced Americano with cream) and her daughter (24oz surprise zinger with cream). Her daughter would come through every day and get herself and her mom their drinks then go home to get ready for school. I had never seen her mother before until this one particular day I was feeling extremely homesick and missed my mom. They were on their way to church, and they were all dressed up. Her mom was so nice to me it instantly made me tear up thinking about my mom. Once I got off work, I called my mom which I hadn’t done in a while. People come through the coffee shop all the time unaware of the difference they are making on someone with just their presence.

 I try my best to give a good experience to customers, especially regulars who I see every day. I had this one regular (16 oz white chocolate raspberry extra thick frappe) unfortunately she got in a car accident and tragically passed away. I had talked to my other coworkers about this because we all knew this woman. My coworker Kylie had told me she had made her drink the last night of her life. She had expressed to me how she had wondered if she had been the last person to talk to her or how she had hoped she made her drink correctly and it was a good experience for her. After that conversation I had decided that I was going to make an effort to ask customers for their names. I want to be able to greet them by their name and pick up the conversation where we left off. 

It is so important to be kind to everyone because you never know what others are going through or when it could be their last day. You never know how a singular smile can affect someone's day. When you are kind to others you will most likely receive kindness back. The world would be a better place if everyone practiced small acts of kindness.