Thoughts on Compassion
I’ll be honest, I struggled to come up with the topic for this. Really struggled. Then it hit me, it should be about the lack of compassion and what we should all be trying to do to restore it in our lives, but more importantly in the lives of the people that serve us on so many levels. And before I begin, I am not, nor do I claim to be perfect or any kind of expert on the topic.
Many in the service industry have been at work throughout Covid, doing their absolute best to provide us with some semblance of normalcy even though they are short-staffed and overworked. When I see or hear of those folks being yelled at, complained to, and talked down to it makes my heart sick. Where do they get off acting like that? People are frustrated, I guess. Where does it end, though? Businesses are already so short-staffed that they are right on the edge themselves, and maybe it’s one more irate customer that becomes the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Then what, that restaurant is forced to close temporarily or even for good? It’s happening. What scares me even more is this: If any person is looking for work, what on Earth would be the encouragement to take a job like that? The same goes for anyone looking to enter any kind of service position. Personally, when something isn’t going perfectly, I sit back, relax, and enjoy my time and the fact that there is someone busting their ass to serve me. I tip the hell out of them, thank them profusely and go on my way. I know they are struggling and have been since this whole thing started, and I just flat-out appreciate them for sticking it out. I could be wrong, but I think that’s called compassion.
We have all witnessed irate customers in any number of stores, hospitals, doctor’s offices, restaurants, auto shops, etc. Add to that list the way our first responders are treated (Police, Firefighters, Ambulance personnel). Let’s face it, we are ALL pretty frustrated with the effects of this pandemic, but how we deal with that frustration is what’s key. I think the solution that can get us all to a place where we feel more whole as we trudge through this time is one simple word. Compassion.
Yesterday I was in a tire shop waiting patiently for tires to be installed on my truck and listening to the interactions of the service manager in person and on the phone. The guy was masterful at his job, truly a compassionate man. At one point someone called to get their vehicle inspected. While I don’t have the benefit of knowing what the customer on the phone was saying, it sounded like their inspection had run out in October and they needed it done right away. The service manager calmly explained and apologized, but they were booking into December for those types of appointments. Then there was a long pause, likely the person going off on the poor guy for not immediately correcting the emergency of his own doing. Then something amazing happened. The service manager calmly asked where the customer lived and went on to give him an idea of a local shop that he knew of that would likely correct the emergency, and even giving the customer the phone number of the shop and detailed directions to where it was. Talk about compassion. This company sends out mailings with coupons attached, and the next call was from a customer that was irate that the coupon wasn’t for more money. What the? That call was handled with grace and compassion as well. You see, that service provider gets it: people are struggling and overreacting and probably have too much time on their hands. Yet he still was as polite as can be and did everything he could to help even at the expense of his own extremely valuable time. Compassion.
It appears many who walk among us have found themselves with extra time on their hands by being at home more than they had ever experienced pre-pandemic. Some of them are using that time to complain about things they never would have before. And even when they do get out to a restaurant or store they are behaving in ways they never had.
A while back a gentleman posted on a public Facebook page about how frustrated and upset he was to find out that a local sandwich shop was closed when he wanted a sandwich. His major bone of contention was that there was no sign on the door warning him that it was closed. Apparently, the door being locked and lights out was not enough to tip him off that it was closed, he needed a sign on the door. What particularly struck me was the fact that, even if there were a sign, he still would have walked to the door to read it, so in reality he had lost no extra time but still needed to bash the shop on a public forum. Gee, I wonder why the place is so short staffed they had to close early. I sorta doubt he applied for the open positions. That man had an extreme lack of today’s word. Rather than being understanding of the struggle to find and keep help across every business, he decided to make it worse. Unbelievable.
Like I said at the beginning, I’m not an expert nor do I claim to be. That said, I firmly believe that the only way our society (let’s just start in Peterborough even though this publication is most likely read worldwide….) gets out of this intact is to incorporate some more compassion into our daily lives. I know a lot of people do this already, but I’m sure every one of us can do a little more. Maybe it’s just holding off on a phone call to a doctor’s office to complain that they don’t answer fast enough. Maybe it’s having your order ready and your wallet out when you get to the counter at Dunks(I mean, the menu is pretty legible from anywhere in the place, there’s no need to walk up and tap on the counter while you read it to decide). Maybe it’s holding a door for someone even if they are a few steps behind. Maybe it’s a bigger tip than normal to your server, God knows they deserve it. How about waving to someone out for a walk and driving by slowly? I suppose the most effective way to go about your daily business is to imagine what you would find acceptable behavior and take it a step further. Be kind, and imagine that every person you encounter has their own struggles you know nothing about.
Since I ended my last article with a quote, I’m going to do it again, although this one needs a touch of artistic license. My father, an amazing, generous and compassionate man once told me when I first began driving, “You know, it costs exactly the same to keep your tank full as it does empty.” That has always stuck with me, because as simple as the statement is, it’s pretty profound. It does not cost anybody a single penny nor does it take anything away from your own life to give a little more to the next person. Give a little more what, you ask? Compassion.
