Once again Christmas has come around like lightning - I’m sure it’s only a couple of months since last Christmas! Malls and downtown are becoming crazy with stressed out people doing their shopping and gift buying. I often wonder why we get so uptight at this time of year when many people are about to have a summer holiday with loved ones or friends. I understand how hard it can be for those on their own - I have spent many a Christmas at home alone hearing my neighbours celebrating their day with children, family and friends. The joys of being a shift worker can be over-rated (my 25 years as a flight attendant), as can the situations of so many others who find themselves alone at Christmas and New Year.

So why then, do people think they are more stressed than those around them? That having to buy gifts and prepare for the Christmas dinner gives them the right to be angry, rude or indifferent to those serving them? I have been in the customer service industry for over 30 years and like to pride myself on my service excellence. These days my clients are amazing - we work together as a team to achieve amazing results, and I have never had one I didn’t love. But what I’m referring to here, is what I see when I’m out shopping with them, or when I was a shop assistant myself, and a flight attendant. Every single person in the customer service industry has the same stresses to deal with as everyone else, but they are expected to be patient, kind, concerned, counsellors, funny, excited - the list could go on forever. When I was working six flights per day on Christmas Day back in my domestic days, we would dress up in Christmas outfits and go all out to celebrate with our 500 plus “guests”. I would say at the most, 20 people commented positively on what we were doing, the majority were indifferent, and some were outright rude. Most of the time, the passengers were grumpy because they had to fly on Christmas Day. I honestly couldn’t understand - they had chosen to travel that day, possibly they had had work commitments prior, but they were travelling to see loved ones or celebrate with whomever. We were working, away from our families, and still smiling.

This year to shop in style, I implore you to think about the person serving you. They do know you are under immense pressure, they are too. They do know there are few shopping hours left, they have to try and fit their shopping in whilst working extended hours. They honestly understand you are tired, grumpy, hot, broke and all the other things you are feeling - they are probably all of those things too. So please, remember to give them a smile, acknowledge what a great job they are doing when the queues at the counter are endless and you’re annoyed you had to wait so long, and just be kind. You will make their day, and probably make your own as well.

Merry Christmas xx