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How do we understand the passage of time in our lives? Is it birthdays? Kid’s birthdays and milestones? In my cashiering experience I have learned to value an hour of my time differently. When I am heading into an 8-hour shift on my feet, I dread the start of the shift. I also resent that $16 an hour pay rate. But, hey… This is where I am.
What is the value of an hour of my time?
In the grocery life, no matter how high I rise, my purpose is selling products and organic produce to my hippie-ish tribe. The tasks are endless. The inflow of people constant. Some days are better than others. And 8 hours on your feet with two ten-minute breaks is bullsh*t, but again, this is just where I am in my life. The health insurance is worth more to me than my salary at this moment. I’m maxing out my 401k to get the 2% match. And my two-week paycheck doesn’t cover my mortgage. Ho hum.
I have learned to shift my focus away from the value of my time to the value of our time. We are here together for a brief moment. Let me make the most of it, and if you choose you can join me in conversation, a new comedy routine I’m working on, or witty banter. I listen to the customers coming in, they show me their energy first and I morph myself to meet them at their level. Sometimes, this is effective. Other times, the customers are oblivious.
Are shift workers invisible?
80% of my daily customers are pleasant, make a point of saying, “Hello, John,” and we have some playful and thoughtful chats. 10% of my daily customers are distracted and not paying attention to me or their grocery bill racking up on the screen in front of them. The final 10% of my customers are jerks. Entitled. “What’s taking so long?” They are not of the “we are in this together” mode. Too bad.
In my mind, I am vibrant, expressive, and likeable. In the customer’s mind, who knows? Do I emenate my liberal hippie agenda? Perhaps. Do I confront the red hats, proudly oblivious to how this moment is crushing our country? Nope. I simply stay focused on the task ahead. Getting them checked out and on their way.
To most of the people I am a crazy-haired customer service rep. They don’t see or need to see the real me. Some of my customers come through the line and greet me as a friend.
Yesterday, I got a huge compliment from two teenage sisters. “We listened to your music,” one of them said. They were delightful. The feedback was a powerful tonic. This (grocery life) is just temporary. The musican and writer in me is the goal. So when I was “seen” by these young people, I paid attention.
What is the value of that connection? The boost they gave my creative ego? I gave them the name of a previous band that I fronted as a new assignment.
A good bit of my hours are spent in the company of other cashiers and primarily young people. A number of my colleages have just passed their 21st or 20th birthdays. I am watching them grow up. I consider them my friends. I enjoy the conversations and explorations about their lives. I engage with my coworkers as well. Just for the fun of it. For the connection of it. For the spirit of it.
Live is a spiritual journey. I am doing my best to show up undistracted and honest. Somedays I do better than others. Somedays I want to call in sick. Every day facing an 8-hour shift, I face my own disappointments. I am here now. I do not have to stay here. I am moving forward. This job is providing a powerful structure and benefit to me at this changing time in my life.
Namasté.
[Listen to the Deep Dive explore the concepts of The Happy Cashier.]
The hope I see in others
becomes the hope I have for myself,
my life, and my own journey.
– The Happy Cashier
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ALT: Botisatva’s Bookshelf | The Happy Cashier Podcast
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