Hello Everyone!
This makes me feel as if I am
talking to you all reading this.... actually, I am ....in my mind. Hope am able
to establish that connect with you! In fact my last post titled, The year
that was! dealt with feeling thankful for everything the year gone by, gave
me. More of recounting on the best moments and rejoicing in them. Also
introspecting and finding out things that helped the year to be awesome!....
with regards to my degree of anticipation and expectations. They are never too
high, guess have learnt to keep them achievable and enjoyable.
Also it takes me to the two
experiences I had on the eve of the new year, inlaws, my two sons and
I were home and wanted to decide on the celebrations to ring in the new year.
Since hubby was out sailing we had to plan for the evening. The housing society
we stay in had a New year party in place, its generally a hit with the children
of all age groups and the youngsters. Mothers love it too as everything is under
control and under their watchful eyes. The music is good and so is the food.
The children also have games organised. So in all its a complete package for
the non drinking crowd. Option two, for us was to choose one of the clubs that
we are members for the party. I asked everyone, in laws wanted to be home as
they avoid having outside food. Children found the club atmosphere not too
appealing, where they felt the elders had a good time and they were reduced to
mere babies with some silly entertainment. Fair enough! Now I was the one to
decide, truly speaking I felt like being with my in laws and enjoying the
evening with watching an entertainment program on TV and some great music, may
be a glass of red wine or the bubbly. But couldn't leave the boys on their own
so I decided to attend the society event. Do mother's really have a choice?
I was free the whole day as nothing
much had to be done. Went for my walk picking up the cellphone and a sling bag
with my wallet in it. After walking for about an hour while returning home,
decided to pick up the cake thought in laws would be home and they could have
it. Though had plans of getting the New Year cake on the 1st. Went to the cake
shop that I always pick up cakes from. It was 7 pm, there were many cakes on display,
a counter set outside too. And quite a few people in the shop, picking up their
orders or buying off the shelf.
I waited for my turn, in the meanwhile checked the wallet and realised that I
had picked up the wrong one that I use for keeping the change and not the one
that had cash and cards. I asked for the pineapple cake that in laws like and
told him that I didn't have all the cash. The owner had a look of pride and
achievement on his face that day as it was his day of good sales I guess.
When he heard what I told him, he asked me to take the smaller one as it being
the 31st night he couldn't do anything what I understood was he wouldn't give
any credit. He is the same guy who has been delivering my cake orders of
atleast 3 kgs plus for the birthdays and anniversaries. I pick up cakes from
his shop very regularly. If you take an average it'll be more than 2 each
month. I felt quite taken aback, and told him that I would come back with full
cash and take the cake then. I was surprised with his behaviour, does anyone
treat a regular customer like this? He'd have got his money the very next day,
he had my number too so I wasn't going to be a defaulter.
Some of you might be thinking why am I giving so much importance to such a trivial issue.
And that the man was doing his job, so what if he was a bit superstitious with
giving such petty credit. I agree completely. But at the shop that day this gentleman
was demanding only cash payments. He had a card swiping machine but was
telling the customers that it wasn't functional. He was not accepting any
online wallet payments either. People had cash crunch due to demonetization
accepting cards and wallet payments is the least he could do. Even small time
vendors and small business owners like the cobbler on the street were accepting
these modes of payments. That makes me not excuse the behavior of the cake shop
owner.
As I was walking back home, there's another cake shop on the way, The Iyengar Bakery
and they had introduced fresh cream cakes to their existing menu. I just walked in
to check the new counter that they had opened. They did have pineapple cakes
and I picked up one from them. I told the person at the counter that I didn't have
much cash to which he replied, I could take whatever I wanted and pay later. I
picked my the pineapple cake, and the money in the wallet was just about
enough. I kept walking towards my home but thoughts were with the person who
was so arrogant that day, somewhere I felt humiliated too. I was thinking of
never ever buying anything from him.
I reached home, shared the incident
with my mother in law, she knew exactly how I felt... she understands me
completely must say! Went for the party with my boys and returned home only post 12, we
walked in with the New year literally.
My thoughts were pretty mixed now I just wanted to forgive the baker, thought afterall
it's our attitude that decided how we dealt with situations. It also defined
who we were. Gratitude was to be practiced by all. A person should never carry any ill feelings
towards anyone. I told to myself that I'd go to that cakeshop again and buy cakes
from him but also let him know what he did. Afterall, I am a trainer and a
teacher! I also understand the importance of sharing my feedback. People
improve, services improve, perceptions undergo a change - that's the very
purpose of training isn't it?
I felt better. Then was checking my
phone, there were hundreds of new year messages and greetings that I wouldn't
have finished reading forget reciprocating. Checked my Gmail and one email kind
of made my day feel really special, in fact was a great start to 2017,copying
it here for you.
Hello Laxmi,
Your first article is live now. Here
is the link to your article: http://marinersgalaxy.com/2016/12/new-year-resolutions.html
You can share this where ever you
want.
Have A Nice Day,
Mark Eriscson
Chief Editor
[Merchant Navy, Shipping Jobs, Maritime News, Exams, Shipping
Companies, Marine Engines, Stories Of Seas...More]
Am sure you all are having a
brilliant start to the new year, let humility and gratitude be an integral part of it.
PS pictures are taken from Google with due credits, for representational purpose only.
No comments:
Post a Comment