no...I insist... you first... after me

I was at the Costco Optical Centre the other day, waiting patiently in line like most people do at Costco.



Let's be honest here...the reason they sell the big, bulk items is so that you don't pass out from hunger while waiting. You can eat 1/2 of the 12lb bag of whole grain tortilla chips with flax and still arrive home with enough product to make nachos for your teenage nephews who eat like they've never seen food before.

So anyway, back to me waiting patiently in line. The young man behind the counter saw that I and another gentleman were needing to speak with him. He looked at both of us and said politely "I'm not sure who was here first...." The other customer said "she was" but as I step up to order new contacts, he cuts in with "...but I have only a quick question. Can you...."

What he should have said is, "I can see that you were here first but, clearly, my time is far more important than yours, so I'm going to go first."

Now, do I think that he really thought that? Probably not, but how does he know that what I was waiting for wasn't just as simple? And did he not know Mark had made it through the checkout in Costco Olympic record time and was now left unattended by the soft serve ice cream? I had places to be - and fast.

I wondered (because I had time to now) how many times I have done this? Jumped in because I knew that I would be super quick and therefore allowing the person that was waiting to take all the time they need. I'm trying to be unselfish, by putting myself first. On the flip side of that now, I realize why the other person doesn't shower me with praise and thank you's for my tremendous generosity. It's because they're muttering under their breath all of the questionable words and phrases I just did. I have clearly let them know exactly how important I think they are.

I have sent the wrong message to many people and I apologize. There is no one on this planet who does not deserve to feel important, loved and put first. I am willing to wait my turn to show that I care. What did Mark do? He put me first by waiting patiently and seemed remarkably less than bothered eating his ice cream as we walked to the car.