I thought to myself what a sad, angry woman. I resolved to tell the doctor.
I did. "I'd live to give you some feedback about your office staff," I said to the doctor. "OK," she replied.
I told her about my experience-- that it's tough enough being a patient in the system we exist within, evern worse a sick one. To have to face such a cold, rude receptionist makes it even worse. "On top of that," I said, "It's bad for her too. Every time she deals with someone in such a cold way she misses the opportunity to give a little kindness and feel the good feelings that are produced by being kind."
The doctor said she'd talk to all of the staff, so no one person was singled out. That's a good way to do things, a kinder way.
There are so many people who go through their days, at their jobs, not realizing that part of their job is to be a kind, decent person to the people they are dealing with. There are some companies, like Trader Joes, and Apple stores, where it's pretty obvious that employees are selected because they naturally act friendly, kind and helpful.
I had the urge to remind the front desk clerk to say please and think you, but I'm not her parent.
It's a tough world out there, with a lot of anger, coldness, rudeness and downright meanness. It is so easy to expend a tiny bit of energy to be kind, to acknowledge people's humanity and go beyond treating them like processed pieces of meat.
The sad thing is, people who fail to take the opportunities to be kind reinforce the feelings of aloneness, anger, frustration and worse. There are so many reasons to be angry today. But there are also so many opportunities to give a bit of kindness, to shine a few rays of light into a person's life. Look for them, don't let the opportunities escape you. Touch people's hearts when you can. Smile and thank the grocery or convenience store clerk with a bit of extra energy in your voice and smile. Treat the person taking your bridge toll like a person and look at them and smile. Find out the name of the person you are dealing with at the office or at the restaurant. Every step you take to honor the humanity of someone else stokes your own humanity. As the Dalai Lama encourages, practice warmheartedness. Do it every day. It pays. It may be the best paying thing you can do, in the long run.
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