“How did we do?”, the survey asks. Well, he came to the door, handed me the parcel, took a photo. I said, “thank you”. He smiled and hurried off down the path to deliver the rest of his 132 parcels.
I was in New York for my godson’s wedding. It was all very new and exciting and a little disorienting. I climbed out of the yellow taxi, bag in hand, paid the fare, added a bit for a tip and strode towards the hotel entrance. Immediately a bell boy grabbed my bag. I didn’t need his help, but I was expected to accept it and, of course, most important, to tip him.
I noticed in small print, at the bottom of the Mothering Sunday menu, a note which said that a discretionary 10% service charge would be added to the bill. I would have preferred to express my thanks for by asking for 10% to be added to the bill.
Some people doing something as part of their paid work look as though they are serving you under sufferance. You are a means to an end. Others do it efficiently, but without any sense of connection. No smile, no passing comment. And sometimes there is someone who serves you with a relaxed kindness, with grace. For that moment, they focus on you. They give you their attention. Attention is love. And that is true service.
Chris Dawson