after a night of fun...

Sometimes working in the retail business or any business that involves interaction with people you become frustrated. And, so a list in my head began (it's what I do). It was going to be a Top Ten list of sorts, but (thankfully) didn't end up being that long.

Here it is in all its glory (or disgust):

7. Do not try to do my job. Do not scan your own merchandise. Do not grab the receipt from my printer. Do not let your darling children try to do my job either. We are timed on each transaction and I’d really like to get my 50 cent raise, so let me get you in and out as quickly as possible.

6. If an item does not have a UPC or a SKU please do not get angry at me. I did not take it off the item simply to piss you off. It frustrates me when I have to call the department for a SKU so I can sell this product to you, but this is my job and that is the only way to do my job. Also, don’t keep telling me how much the item costs and expect me to just type that in. I can’t. This is not 1952; companies aren’t run like that anymore.

5. Do not get in line to purchase your items when you are waiting on your friend or spouse who is still shopping. “They’re coming; they have just a couple more things…” Everyone hates to wait in line and now that you are making us all wait you are making my life and the life of all the other people in line a little less pleasant.

4. If you intend to write a check for your purposes (and God help us if you are) then please be aware of how much longer it takes versus cash or credit. Do not come up to the counter and watch me scan every item and then look around for a pen for a minute and then proceed to start writing out your check. Fill out everything that you can prior to getting in line or while in line. Also, do not take another minute to write down the check number, amount and then practically budget your account while the rest of the world waits on you. Seriously. There’s a commercial that sums this up perfectly.

3. One more thing about being rude: get off your damn cell phone. You are not that important that you have to be attached to your phone every waking moment of the day. It is utterly and completely rude to throw your items on the counter, ignore me, and continue yelling into your phone. I understand there are times that you must answer your phone and I can tell when the person is genuine and apologizes for being on the phone. These are the people that say, “Thank you” even if they are talking on the phone while they are leaving.

2. Know when the store you are shopping in closes. If you’re not sure, ask someone that works there; they will gladly tell you. Please, for the love of all that is good and right in the world do not come in two minutes before we close unless it is an emergency. Yes, I still get paid, but I have a life and I have thirty three other places I’d rather be than waiting on you pick paint colors for your living room.

1. Breathe. Have a little patience. This is not a life and death situation; quit acting like it is. Since working retail I have found that people are horribly impatient and rude. Act like a human being and treat me as a human being and we’ll be okay.


Really this is just a list of things that irritate me. It isn't even concise like the David Letterman Top 10 lists b/c I have a hard time not rambling on. The world of retail isn't too bad generally, but there are moments when it all hits the fan and you just want to be done say exactly what you are thinking instead of smiling and saying, "how are you today? did you find everything okay?" especially if they ignore you after the first question or so.

Have any pet peeves of your own?

Risk, not just a four letter word

The more I work my way through getting out of debt the more I realize the majority of the choices in my life have been made based on the debt that I have. The job that I take is based on the amount of money it will earn nearly as much as it is based on if it is a position I would enjoy. There are many other areas that my debt has colored my life and it is exciting to see how my mindset about some things is changing.

There are possibilities floating around in my head that I once thought were only dreams and were not a good fit for my life. My friend Jen and I have decided to venture through a book together; it’s titled Hope Lives: A Journey of Restoration. The book walks you through a five week journey about seeing poverty and what it might look like to do something about the poverty that exists in the world instead of being paralyzed by the sheer amount of it and not knowing how to help.

If you know anything about my journey these last several years you will know that I’ve had a bit of a hard time surrendering to what the traditional church looks like and also went through an incredible time of doubt about nearly all of it. And, well, if you didn’t know this it is alright, I tried to ignore it for quite awhile and didn’t know how to talk about it since I was in a constant state of questioning with no answers to be found. I’m coming through this other side of the journey a bit still baffled at church, but secure in knowing that what really matters and what has really mattered all along to God and to myself (or as much as I’m able I’d like to believe this) are people. Full Circle with a bit of a different perspective is where I think I’m headed. What I want and what I think I’ve wanted all along is to be in a place to be able to love people.

In the ebb and flow of life I’ve gone back and forth with being content and being dissatisfied with my job. That’s the key word—job. For the most part I really like the company I work for, the people I work with, and even the job that I do I do fairly well and enjoy being able to do a good job. But, there’s some sort of satisfaction that I feel I’m missing. Maybe it’s just being part of this generation feeling like there’s some sort of fulfillment that I should get from my occupation and not just a paycheck. There’s more to come from all of this, I think. I’m hoping that reading the Hope Lives book, being open to possibilities, and being ready to risk is going to help lead me on.