Service people and my take on society

I have often found service people to be some of the most casually inspiring or totally frustrating interactions of my day.

Case in Point:
Drive through fast food employees: It is of great inspiration when i encounter people working at these windows, and they are happy, kind, and friendly. I am surprised by their demeanor, expecting them to be frustrated, grumpy and having a 'couldn't care less' attitude, it is an encounter than can brighten my day. This is almost always the case at a few places in partiucular... and then there are the others, who you wish you hadn't encountered at all...

Residential Building employees: While I know they are only doing their job, dictating and acting out what has been instructed of them, it is their attitudes that can set a day off into a cloudy, grumpy mess. I often have to go into these buildings for work, and it was of great shock to me, at a recently completed building, when most of the staff was rather rude, and acted condescending. Granted, I was already having a bad day, and I realized through all of this that they have no idea, and may just be reacting to my bad day ( my attitude clearly changes I'm sure). But then I also realize that they are more likely to already have some attitude of their own prior to our interaction. I am shocked sometimes at the things I am told, but more shocked by the attitude presented with it. This was particularly bad yesterday evening. I had arrived as usual, but had not been to this building yet, so am not accustomed to the rules and 'in's and out's' of their operations. I was first told by a ego driven young man, most likely college student, that I was not allowed to park for free, even if I was providing a service to a resident. I was irritated to say the least, but was further insulted as he seemed to pass judgement on my current job, caring for animals. There is a long list of insults I wanted to throw his way after his comment with attitude, but realized i am above that, he is only a lowley valet. (that makes me feel better :)) Then I get inside the building, 15 min. later mind you, parking was ridiculous. I ask the Concierge if there is anything she can do to assist me with the parking. Her summarized response: "Our residents know there is no free parking, and we are under no obligation to provide parking of any sort to services or delivery people." WOW!! Ok, thanks for adding that in there... 'under no obligation'... Clearly they do not understand the needs of their residents, nor care if their needs are met. FYI: there is no parking elsewhere around the building minus street parking on 5th, but there are 4 of these buildings in a 2 block radius, also with no parking for guests or services... so I complete my appointment and leave for the next one.

Needless to say, I was upset, frustrated and insulted. I felt as though these people, while acting out what they have been told, are truly robots of the 'machine' of society. They are great at being sub-servient to the bigger authorities dictations, I sense they can't see past themselves, or the situation to see how this can benefit them, or the very people they are supposed to be servicing. Which must be great for management, ' dont think for yourself or others, just do what we say and you'll get paid'. Whats even sadder: they most likely wont be at these jobs in a year, and I have been doing my job for 5. I feel they are blindly defending an issue or position that is of no benefit to them, and wont be of detriment to others if they allowed it. (but will be of benefit to the resident in the building they work for, if they would)

This 2nd interaction is not unique, I have encountered this more than once (and was always in a much better mood!), at various buildings, but now have a new found respect for one that I complained about often, at least they provide a services entrance and parking ( well its actually bad parking, but at least they try to provide it).

I love my job, but hate the people aspect of it (not the client so much, but the service people I have to interact with as a part of it). Why do people have to 'suck' in general? I was just watching a celebrity riddeled video on Youtube entailing Obama and his speeches made prior and during his Presidential inauguration, and the message being that we be more responsible for our individual actions and consider others instead of 'Me, Me Me...' and act out that notion by volunteering. While I find celebrity engulfed public service annoucemnts VERY annoying and dont understand why they fit the role for spokesperson of the year, much less why I should listen to Demi Moore, or Ashton Kutcher, or any of the 20-30 or so on there...I do think this is the main issue with people and our society as it continues to progress further down this tunnel of isolated observation and consideration, which popular culture, many celebrities and our society and youth, are perpetuating.

While I know that society has it's cycles and the most recent for generation Y and even some of the X'er's (those age 16 and above, even people in their late 20's and early 30's) have a new found talent of complete egotisim like nothing the world has seen before. It makes me sad when i bump into these people through a day, but at the end of the day, (I try) realize that it is another cycle, and I can only be hopeful as to where it goes. I think this society is also creating people who care more, and do so more obviously. (and not just to fulfill their ego, or to benefit their celebrity status).

Additionally, a huge issue that most Americans can relate to: big business acting completely out of line with the law and any societal guidelines. (the past year has been littered with businesses reaching out for help due to their bad practices and some going to jail). THANK GOODNESS! I know many people agree with me, but now all everyone says is "corporate greed". Them being a corporation has nothing to do with it, I understand what they mean, just dont like how it has become so general: if its a large company they wont do what they say, or they are 'bad'. This is a slap in the face to entrepreneurship and the business owners who have worked hard to grow their company out of their own city or state. I feel if people grounded themselves more and realized that the societal breakdown (as I see it) begins with them, that there is still hope. Expect more of yourself and others, business owners included, including community invovlement vs. only a 'how can I get on top' , and squish all others, type of attitude. That through this muddled society's morality and befudled human kindness baromoter that they can begin the change. Instead of posing a bad attitude and perpetuating the mean streak and egoist attitude, they can instead be a part of something greater, something bigger than themselves. Even if they never reach any further than their own circle of people.

I am the first to admit, I am not the kindest person I have ever met. In fact, I have been proud to a be a B***ch, depsite me being a rather shy person. As I have gotten older, it has gotten worse. Yes, worse. I became the B**ch that I wanted to be, the tough person who can handle any situation. Now, I'm not so sure I like her. She is someone who has fulfilled the ego expected in today's society, and can be the biggest B* in the room at times. Who really wants to be around that? Confidence is one thing, but I realized I have always admired the kind people who were strong. Something I feel is much more positive of a goal. In our society we dont have to get walked on, but we dont have to think of ourselves only, all day long, with all our interactions. This issue is even a bigger deal when I watch news on the war, see artists who have made exhibits based on poverty and war, or visit european countries just to realize the building I'm in had to be rebuilt from bombings just 50 years ago. We dont have to be depressed by this, but realize when it comes down to it, we are all human, cut from the same cloth. While our tough skin helps us deny the obvious ( I know I do with certain circumstances), we can be open to basic human ineractions and acceptance. (kindness may be a reach, and I dont expect world peace, just a greater respect for human indiviuality, as I understand it)

So, hopefully, everyone, including myself, will take a little time to realize something outside of themselves and reach out to someone who may be in more pain than them to be that little ray of sunshine in that persons day. Do something kind, and others will observe and follow, creating a perpetual motion of change. Even if you are the low man on the totem pole, you can be something more than yourself, your job or status in life doesnt dictate how you interact with others or the change you can affect on the world around you.