So there I was, at my local restaurant picking up the food I ordered. The cashier, one I’ve seen many times, asked me what I ordered. i always order the same thing so I don’t know how he forgot. But I told him. Then he goes into the computer and checks the price. I’m thinking “what the hell how does this guy not know how much it is, I literally come get the same thing everyday”. But then something happened.
My judgement turned to compassion. And I saw past his role, to the human underneath it. I saw a man, just doing his job, trying his best, and maintaining some semblance of a positive attitude through it all.
I saw the humanity in him.
Shared Humanity
Beneath every role and title, is a human just like me and you. With their own story, their own narrative, their own little mini universe in their head. We all get caught up in putting the role above the human. But experience has taught me, that if you approach any person on a human level, they will respond to you.
Because what is a celebrity but a human? We idolize them, some people even stalk them, but they’re just humans man. They have just been blessed. And we’ve all seen those paparazzi that won’t leave some celebrities alone, and it kinda breaks my heart you know. Here’s these people just tryna live life, I mean I’m sure they don’t mind the wealth, but I’m sure they didn’t sign up to have every private moment of their life documented and put on the internet.
Compassion
When I looked past the cashier’s role, and saw the humanity in him. Something sparked in me, I don’t wanna call it pity, but it’s not really sympathy either. I guess you could call it compassion. I didn’t even know this man, but I wanted to help him. I wanted to show him a better life, a life where he isn’t just stuck in a kitchen all day. I mean I’m in no better position myself. But I can’t really explain it you know. For a moment, all my judgement just dissipated and all that was left was empathy and compassion.
We all go through life just taking people for granted. The person that makes your coffee at Starbucks, or the cashier at the grocery store ringing your items. Like these people are humans too, you see so many videos of Karen’s giving frontline workers hell. They don’t own the store, they’re just doing their jobs.
Virtue
I mean maybe I’m the odd one out. Like who see’s a cashier looking up the price of an item and feels compassion for them? Clearly something ain’t normal here. But what is normal? And what have we normalized? I mean I get, not every worker is a saint, but hell, neither am I. And that’s what it is man, we’re all just human.
I truly think, if people can extend understanding and compassion to one another, we’d be living in a way better world. Like everyone is so entitled, in this fast paced world, we just want everything now and we want it done fast. Somewhere along the line we’ve forgotten how to treat each other like humans. And it tears me up you know. You go online and all you see is people arguing and bickering, They forget that on the other end of their phone is another human just like them. Like when did everything become such a competition?
Maybe I’m the odd one out. But I kinda like it on this side ya feel me? If compassion and understanding are a rarity in this world. I’d rather stick to my guns then conform to the rest of the world.
So if I can ask one thing from you, I’d ask, that next time you’re at the grocery store and the cashier is ringing your items. Ask them how they’re doing, maybe crack a joke, make them smile for a moment. You never know what someone’s going through, and how a little gesture can go a long way.
Peace ✌️