Let It Get Cold

When I was teaching Public Relations Writing at Towson Univesity, I told my students to let their writing sit for at least 24 hours before editing. Our brains cannot simultaneously create and correct. So, time is needed for our brains to actually 'see' what's on the page and then the necessary edits and corrections are so much easier to spot. Why? Because the brain resets and sees it as it is, not the way you thought you wrote it. I call this: Allowing Your Writing To Get Cold.

Lately, I've been reading a lot of comments on social media platforms and articles about behaviors in the cyber connection world in which we now live.  And, one of the common threads seems to be the lack of civility and bad behavior we witness or receive.

The real conundrum is the total lack of common sense exhibited by people who simply broadcast everything they do.  Every thought they have.  Every sarcastic or cutting remark goes up for ingestion by the rest of the world.  It's so terribly wrong on so many levels. The absolute lack of understanding that a civilized person does not put their personal stuff out on the sidewalk so people can pick through it, is alarming.

As of the recent election, the amount of stories about bad, horrible behavior and treatment of others on social media has really up-ticked.  While most of us simply thought it would die down post election, which is true to a point, it seems that many people have turned into...

...Internet Trolls.

The Urban dictionary defines a Troll as: “Being a prick on the internet because you can. Typically unleashing one or more cynical or sarcastic remarks on an innocent by-stander, because it's the internet and, hey, you can.”

You might wonder why the name, Troll, which I find pretty accurate and funny.  If you think about the trolls that we all heard about in fairy tales, they seem to live in dark and unsavory places.  They lay in wait under bridges for unsuspecting travelers. Trolls just love frightening before they snatch you up and eat you alive.

If you've ever experienced troll behavior on your social media pages, you know it immediately even if you didn't know what it's called.  You can't help but pull back thinking, "What the hell?  Where did that come from and why did she/he even write that?!?!?!"

The cautionary tale for all of us is: BEWARE!  High stress situations can bring out the hidden troll in all of us.  It's especially upsetting when you are on the receiving end of troll-like behavior from someone you thought was a 'friend' on social media.  You wonder, "What the hell did I write that would cause him/her to be so crappy?"  And, the answer is generally because...

...Social Media has an immediacy that strips away good judgement and polite behavior, especially during emotionally charged times or topics. And, because you're not in the same space with an actual Human Being, looking them in the eyes as it were, we lose our normal filters.  If you had to look at the person with whom you are talking so shitty, well, you probably would hold back.

We are in the brave new world together.  And it's only going to get faster and worse before, or if, it can get better.  As technology shifts, as the world goes faster in a breathless pace of thought to  broadcasting, we must begin learning new ways of being. We must possess new ways of interacting-- new sets of manners and polite behavior.

Because if we don't, all of us will become infected.  All of us will become more Troll than Human Being.

I don't have the answers to what it's going to take to stem the epidemic, but I can start with this one from my teaching days:

When it comes to any topic on social media, especially those that are contentious or highly charged emotionally, before you hit SEND, let your writing get cold.  It's the knee jerk reaction to things that is getting us into Troll territory.  It's not allowing our polite filter to command our response.

When we're speaking and, in a moment of poor judgement, say something that turns out pretty horrible or passive-aggressive, with enough time, the impact will lessen.  Thankfully, we have short memories on so many levels.  But, if you write that same horrible thought, IT LASTS FOREVER! Unless it's deleted, it will be read over and over.

The best I can suggest at this point is, after you let it get cold...even for five minutes and think about how it might sound, you can stop yourself from turning into a troll.

The ultimate test is to ask yourself, "Is it really contributing anything to say it that way? Does it add value or simply cause further strife?"  If the answer to either of those questions is NO, and you would never want someone to comment that way to you, hit DELETE and be a better person for your commitment to be kind instead of an ass-hat Internet Troll.

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly aka She Who Never Wants To Be A Troll

Liar, Liar Pants On Fire!

Social media, love it or hate it, has completely changed how we deal with each other and how we take in information.  It's still a steep learning curve for most of us.  One area where we all could do better is not spreading falsehoods simply by accepting a post as fact and hitting, "Repost, ReTweet, Rerun." Our childhood taunt of, "Liar, liar pants on fire," should guide what we post!  I wonder, instead of our noses growing when we told a lie, if our fingers caught fire, would we be more careful about what we type?

When I was teaching at Towson University, I had a few class rules.  One of my most stringent was that the Internet could not be the sole or first source of information for papers and presentations.  Was it easier for students to simply sit in front of a computer and type key words into a search block?  Yes. Was it the best source for information?  Not back then and certainly not even now. My students couldn't always grasp that just because it was on the internet, didn't mean the info was verified or correct. Anyone with a keyboard and/or an agenda can add noise without substance to the Internet. As President Reagan said so well, "Trust but verify!" Multiple sources are usually needed.

Maybe this isn't important to everyone, but remember, I was teaching students whose aspirations were to be professional communicators.  And, I believe those professionals need to hold themselves to the highest standard of fact gathering and checking.



In terms of posting to social media, people don't seem to understand the importance of  being factual, true, or accurate.  Is the post real?  Is the story correct?  They simply re-post things without checking first.  I wish I had a dollar for every time I've seen a post with comments,"You need to check this, it's not true." Or, "This is an urban legend!"

Even more amazing is that, even after it's proved wrong, some simply leave it up! A testament to the notion that fiction travels at least three times faster than the truth! If you learn it's incorrect, take it down off your wall!

In the current political climate and the horribly divisive world we now occupy, I believe it's more critical than ever to know that what we post is real.  At least the facts should be real because how we feel about the facts is enough of a powder keg these days to set off fights and bad feelings way more than is necessary.

It's interesting that people easily find info via the internet or on social media and don't stop to think that it's just as easy to check facts before posting.  There are dozens of sites, the sole purpose of which, are to give you the facts.

I like Snopes.  And even though it has come under fire as being liberal leaning, I don't worry about that.  I use them to get baseline confirmation of authenticity.

FactCheck is the other site that I rely upon, especially for political stories.

It's ironic that people can't tolerate having anyone lie to their face, but they don't seem to understand that a lie in print is just as damaging or frustrating as a verbal lie.  Maybe even more so because verbals fade, but once something's in print- it's always there.

The Managing Editor of Snopes, Brooke Brankowski, has the right take on this issue, "If it arouses an emotional response in you- if you see the headline and go, 'I can't believe this, I'm so angry,'- then it's probably something you need to check against something else."

If reading something causes an immediate strong reaction, it's always best to check it.  Your gut is, generally, a great lie detector!  Trust it!

Posting things that you don't know to be correct is the social media version of gossip!  If you can't abide gossip in real time, don't let your social media posts be gossip!

While most people make it their goal to never speak an untruth, we all need to start holding ourselves to the same standard in terms of what we post.

You can trust me.  I always check my facts before posting them for your consumption.  I promise not to lie to you with my mouth or my posts.  I hope you'll all join me in this important challenge.

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly aka She Who Tells The Truth

I Don't Know What Possessed Me At Walmart

Yesterday, I was standing in an aisle in Walmart.  Staring at the shelves for something I just knew should be there, but wasn't.  You know that stare...the one where you're looking in your refrigerator, just hoping if you look long enough, something you want to eat will magically appear.  Empty vacant stare  Not seeing what you want.  Wait, is that it?  Yeah?  No, false alarm.  THAT stare.

At any rate, while I was intently looking, to the corner of my awareness came people pushing a cart. My staring contest was slightly interrupted by a youngish male voice saying, "Well that's just stupid, Mom."  To which said mom replied quietly, "Please don't speak to me like that."  I continued staring for my desired item.

The very next statement the kid made was, "Well it is Mom, sometimes you sound dumb as shit!"

And I truly don't know what possessed me, but before I knew it, I could feel my eyes blazing, and I whipped around and to the kid I said, "Excuse me, young man, I do not know you but I will tell you this: don't you ever speak like that again.  This woman is your MOTHER and she deserves your respect.  She most certainly does not deserve to be spoken to like that EVER!  Especially not from you and especially not in public where others can hear your ignorance and wonder about how stupid you sound!!!"  There was a split second of shocked silence...I think all three of us were shocked.

The kid mumbled, "Well, she just sounds dumb sometimes!"  I felt the possession growing as I replied,"You don't get to say that to me or anyone else.  She is your MOTHER!"  He looked down and turned red.

Here's the funny thing.  While I was having the exchange with that kid, the woman standing beside me started to alter her being.  I could feel her energy change.  She was round shouldered and small when this got started, but I swear to you I could feel her shoulders pull back and her head come up and she felt secure...quiet...but secure.  It was so odd to feel that shift.

The kid mumbled petulantly, "I think I'm going to go wait in the car."  And both of us together said, "Good idea!"

I turned to walk away but before I left, I said to Mom, "Please forgive me for getting involved in your private business.  It's just that I know he was raised better than that, and you certainly deserve better than that from him."  She looked at me and said, "Oh don't worry about it, you're right, he was raised better than that."  She never acknowledged the most important part which is that she deserves better.  That's a real shame.

Here's what makes me wonder now in this age when we can no longer truly parent, discipline, correct, admonish, direct, or punish our kids for fear of social or legal retribution:  How do we deal with them when they become so emboldened that they have no idea of the limits?  How do we deal with them when we have entitled them to hold us emotionally and mentally hostage?  Like the boy yesterday in public, speaking like that because he probably knows his mother's not going to take the risk of  lowering the boom and being thought of as a bad parent? How is that in any way fair?!  Just?  How is it in any way good for a young person to have the world cow-tow to them and never get the crap smacked out them for being rude, mean, tyrannical? Why do we no longer believe in taking the immediate, sometimes harsh, measures necessary to gain an attitude adjustment?!  Why is their personal self-esteem more important than their manners and civility?

We become increasingly alarmed at the lack of civil connection young people seem to exhibit.  We bemoan how they all act as if it's all about them with never a thought about those around them.  We scream about the increase in bullying.  The increase in petty meanness.  Yet we don't seem to make the connection between the increase in terrible behavior with the way we have abandoned some basic tenants of parenting! The need to discipline, punish and set limits is a necessary part of parenting.  It's the key to turning a young wild animal into a Human Being fit for living in, and contributing to, society!  Setting limits is part of loving a young Spirit...so is just discipline.  They are actually a form of love just as much as a hug and a kiss.

How did we allow this world to turn the need to set limits, require one to speak in a respectful, civil way, and basic discipline of a young person into a sin and a crime?!

Oddly enough as I walked away, I realized all that time I was in the wrong aisle; I wanted the next aisle over. That's where the hot sauce I was searching for is shelved.

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly aka The Thunder

Let's Call It What It Truly Is

Last night, viewing the "debate" left me disliking both of these men completely.  This morning I woke up realizing that I shouldn't be simply disliking these two, but instead really direct my mail to the correct address.  I should have the chance to bitch-slap the organization, The Commission on Presidential Debates.  They are morons...not that these two are off the hook for not refusing to participate in last night's forum the way it was set up.

What something is called matters!  Don't hand me a pig's ear and call it a purse!  I know the difference.  So should most people.  Let me be clear:

As defined by Webster's:

debate n :  a contention by word or arguments as the formal discussion of a motion...  b : a regulated discussion of a proposition between two matched sides.

discussion n :  a consideration of a question in open and usually informal debate.

town hall meeting :  from Wikipedia : an American English term given to an informal public meeting derived from the traditional town meetings of New England. Everybody in a town community is invited to attend, voice their opinions, and hear the responses from public figures and elected officials about shared subjects of interest. Attendees rarely vote on an issue or propose an alternative to a situation. It is not used outside of this secular context.

Okay, now that we're clear, let's get back to the ridiculousness that was presented last night.  The second Presidential DEBATE was presented as using a TOWN HALL MEETING  format, where about 80 undecided registered voters were randomly chosen to be on the stage with Governor Romney and President Obama.  The intention was to have these voters ask questions that they wished answered; the questions were chosen in advance by the moderator.   With me so far?

It was supposed to lead to DISCUSSION between these two and the questioners who represent us, in terms of things we feel are important and would like to hear their ideas and notions.  It would give these two candidates the opportunity to more clearly define the differences between their view of the issues.

But, what we got was throw away moments of an American citizen honestly, and with commitment, asking their question only to have these two boobs use them as a springboard to go at each other.  There was no true exchange...no discussion...no respect...no better understanding of the people who were there, either of the people who asked the questions or these two who totally missed the point of the evening.

Shame on the Commission for setting this thing up for big failure in the eyes of any who watched this train wreck.  And, rather than thinking either one of the sparring partners came out the winner, as far as I'm concerned, they both lost.  And I lost an hour and a half of my life I'll never get back.

To my mind, the one who would have come out the winner, would have been the man who was smart enough to give a real rat's ass about, not only the question, but the questioner.  The winner would have been the one who momentarily connected to the man or woman standing there with major nerves jangling at the notion of asking a powerful person a question on national television.  The candidate who would have carried the night would have made that questioner feel important rather than a toss off.

The one who could have truly won the debate last night would have been the man who decided to stop fighting the guy standing next to him and concentrated, instead, on being in true COMMUNICATION with the individual who had asked the question.  The winning candidate would have stayed on the question instead of using it as a weasel hole to launch off into what else they wanted to say instead of answering what was courageously asked of them.

The winner would have demonstrated true care and commitment to being the leader of the free world by giving a damn about the citizens sitting in the circle around them instead of using them as fodder to spew their agenda.

But neither of them was smart enough to forgo their need to beat the other guy senseless and care more about the people.  Which, sadly, is the way most people running for political office at that level behave more times than not.  Especially in a public forum.  Does an individual give up their Human capacity to genuinely LISTEN, and thereby demonstrate the ability to truly care when they go into politics?!  Sadly, it seems they do.

Do I blame President Obama and Govenor Romney?  Not really.  After all, they are being constantly prepped for a DEBATE and this one was called The Second Presidential DEBATE.  No, I blame the Commission for calling it one thing, yet setting up as another thing by staging  it as a TOWN HALL MEETING.  Setting up the citizens on the stage as well as us in the viewing audience to hope against hope that these two men would rise to the occassion of being able to decern and give a damn about the difference.

Stop using the town hall format as a platform in a nation debate!  They are mutually exclusive concepts; set up this way they do not foster better understanding of the candidates.

Today, spokespeople of both parties will be on the news shows and talking head moments crowing about how their guy won last night.  They're all spinning it today.  I should know, I was part of the Spin Doctors as my career.

But the truth?  The real truth?  Both Romney and Obama failed because they were too determined to hammer their ideas and what they thought you should know rather than listen and connect to even one of the citizens who were part of the process with them.  They were too concerned about the smack-down between each other instead of taking the opportunity to show how they could and would genuinely care about the citizens they say they wish to serve.

Simply saying the questioner's name and thanking them for their 'important' question before you launch off on what you want to say instead of answering the question and connecting with them as a Human Being does not constitute truly caring!!!  Don't pander!  We know when you're doing it and we don't like it!!

So, shame on both of them.  Shame on the Commission on Presidential Debates, and shame on the moderator who allowed her bias to slip out too much.  I am, once again, totally disgusted with the political process.

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly

No, I Don't Believe I Will

Not too long ago, My Lion had occasion to say to me, "Be the bigger person."  It was a situation where he sympathized with me completely and knew that I was really struggling.  Out of my deep love for him, I accepted his advise.  Because, there was so much I could have said, and done; up to and including cutting the other person's head off and handing it to them before they fell to the ground.

The natural warrior instinct in me was raging to be let loose!  And, the part of me who is the peace keeper just wanted to throw up her hands and say, "Let the pieces fall where they may."  But, for the sake of all of the others who were in the situation with us, I couldn't. So I shut my pie-hole and ate all the things I wanted to say.

But here's the thing, unlike usual, the passage of time hasn't cooled my temper.  I'm still angry. I don't want to be the bigger person any longer.  Not as it relates to this individual.  I'm not able to do it any more.  I'm tired of doing it.  There's no pay-off; nothing in it for me to keep doing it.

No, I don't believe I will be the bigger person any longer.  I don't think anyone should constantly be asked to take the high road in a relationship.  It's not equitable or reasonable.  It's not even a relationship; it's a time bomb.

So, I wonder, does it make me a bad person?  Have you ever come to the point when there was nothing left to say except, "I'm done.  I can't be the bigger person all the time.  I don't want to do it anymore with you.  You'll just have to go find other people who are willing to tolerate you and always be the bigger person when it comes to the way you treat people.  I'm out."

Is it all right for me to admit I'm a failure when it comes to being the bigger person?

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly

Talking To Be Heard

Just because you've decided that now is the best time to talk, doesn't mean that now is the best time for the other to listen.

If you really want to be heard, you need to fight the impulse to spew and pick your moment carefully. 

That is, if your goal is to be heard.  Otherwise, if you just want to give into your every impulse, say what you want to say regardless of whether it has any meaning to another, well go ahead and let fly.

You might think you feel better because you got that off your chest but, don't be angry if you don't get anything meaningful back.  And, please, don't whine, "No one ever listens to me!"

Running off at the mouth is not the same as communicating.  And, timing is everything.

'Nuff said.


Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly aka She Who Always Wishes To Communicate

Snow Storm Etiquette

You are incredibly lucky, on days like this, if you have a driveway. Or parking pad. Any spot that is yours alone, which allows you to park your vehicle off the street. If your car resides in a garage even better.

Mine used to, but now the garage is occupied by a much sportier tenant. Evan's car is living there while it waits for him to come to retrieve it once he is stationed. So my truck, no luck, is in the driveway. In bad weather, even if it's just a driveway, that's a good thing.

Growing up in the city, I didn't even know driveways existed. Homes, other than row houses, were foreign. Didn't everyone live with two families attached to their home by walls? If a strong sense of community exists, this intimate arrangement can be quite nice. Neighbors hop the porch rail to bring extra cake they baked or food that they want to share. Getting the neighbor's mail is no problem at all. Making sure all the kids are safe is as easy as walking outside and visually sweeping the perimeter.

Snow, however, can change all that goodwill in a short second. If you're not inclined to follow the unspoken rules of city civility...well, let's just say, you'll be shunned once the snow has melted. There are some things you just don't do. As well as things you must do.

The response to snow is as individual as neighbors. When I lived on Falkirk Road, Roseanne was my next-door neighbor. Her house was always, 'just so.' Like a firehouse dog waiting for the bell to ring, she dealt with things immediately! For Ro, most of life was a battle that required attack plans. She battled dust. She slayed grass that had the nerve to grow really fast after a rain. She fought the leaves even before they fell! The dirt that landed on the front porch. The city soot that covered windows. Any element that challenged her from keeping the orderly upper hand. And as it related to snow, she hovered. Shovel at the ready. Every hour or so she'd jet out to tackle it, or make husband Tony shovel what had fallen.

I have to say, like most of her house keeping methods, I thought this was extreme. But, that was Ro. However when Doog would sweat and swear, because the job was now massive since he always waited till the storm was done, I began to see the twisted wisdom of Roseanne's method. Handled a bit at a time, the work was more managable. The years I lived on my own, I employed her method. It was the only way that worked without someone there to help.

City ordnance insisted that steps, walks, and sidewalks in front of homes have the white death removed within a reasonable period of time. Even though, generally, the city owns the sidewalks. Still, you're responsible for keeping it cleared, or be fined. It's a safety issue.

Imagine attempting to dig a car out on a snow bound street...where do you put the snow? Certainly not out in the middle of the already clogged street. Or, behind your car onto your neighbor's. Probably can't throw it to the front, either; the other neighbor's car is jammed in the same predicament. How about, fling it onto the sidewalk? Okay, so long as it's only the sidewalk in front of your house.

Start there...bend, lift, fling. Repeat. Again and again. And, when the snow is really deep, after you dig it out, pray the snow plow doesn't pen it back in again while clearing the street!!!

Once the car is dug out, now what? It took hours. What happens when you leave? You will have to leave eventually. That guy up the street never digs his car out...never. That SOB will just come home tonight and put his car in your cleaned out spot. Ass! What can you do to make sure the hard-won spot is there when you get home? Ah...go get a lawn chair! Yep. That piece of light weight aluminum with its garishly colored, woven straps.

Against opportunistic neighbors, the lawn chair works with the same potency of garlic on vampires! How could something a fat person can collapse with ease, keep a motor vehicle out of a vacant spot? Because that's part of snow storm etiquette. If you're a civilized Human, you simply won't have the audacity to take over someone's hard work. Just won't. No civil person ever moves the lawn chair and steals a clean spot!

Being civil- it's the same reason the neighbors to the right and left of your house help you clear sidewalks. There's always one who doesn't hate shoveling as much as the rest of us. After they've finished their own, they keep going to meet you as you're toiling along. And, everyone does their best to take care of the elderly neighbor. Or the woman who lives alone. It's just how it's done when neighbors know and care about each other.

So, having lived with that mind-set, I wonder why many people in my neighborhood don't bother to clear their sidewalks. Do they think, "I'm certainly not walking in that mess and nobody who is sane will either,"? Perhaps. But, is it right to make anyone who may be on foot trod the street because the walk-way in front of your home isn't cleared? To do what's convenient or expedient at the inconvenience of others?

If the snow plow driver decided to clear every part of a street except the section directly in front of your house, you'd be really pissed! Seems to me that a homeowner opting to leave the snow on their sidewalk is sort of the same. True, it's your property and you can do exactly what you want with your stuff, but is it neighborly?

Dealing with snow is a butt-pain. It's often Herculean work. But, when we take on the task with the notion of courtesy and safety, it makes the effort worthwhile. Besides, your home owner's insurance is less likely to take a hit. Time to remember snow storm etiquette. Even if you are fortunate and don't need a lawn chair to secure your space!

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly

Man Not Machine

Yesterday while running errands, I jetted into the drive-thru of my favorite fast food joint for a drink. The upbeat voice in the order box said, "My name is Nicky, can I take your order?" I did what I always do before yelping my order into the box, I said, "Hi, how are you?" After an uncertain pause, the box replied, "I'm well, thanks, and how are you?!" I answered and gave my short order.

At the pick-up window, a young sparkly girl wearing a headset came up next to the one handing me my drink and excitedly said, "Hey, I want you to know you're my all time favorite customer! I just told my manager that you actually said hello to me and asked how I was!! No one has ever done that. Ever. I come in here everyday trying to be nice to people but no one has ever done that for me. Thanks. You made my day!" Wow.

Next, I headed to Target. The register lines were a tad long giving me time to look around. I saw Target Team Members all say hello to the people in line. Some briefly responded; some on their cell phones didn't even hear. Others were engaged in conversation with the person with them. Not one customer engaged in conversation during the check-out process. A few said a hurried, "Thanks," as they snatched their bags. When it was my turn, I did my usual eye dart to the badge for a name. When Team Member Paula said hello, I responded, "Hi Paula, how are you today?" Again after a brief pause, she beamed, "I'm good, thanks. How are you? Did you find everything okay?" We chatted and I left thanking her for her help.

So, why this entry; this sort of stuff goes on countless times a day. Yes, it does. I'm calling attention to the uncertain, brief pauses that happened in both of those exchanges because that's the important bit. Those pauses are an uncertain brain attempting to process a new experience. Attempting to process the experience of being acknowledged! The one who takes an order or helps in a check-out line is a Human Being, not an extension of the cash register! In our haste, our self-absorbed methods of getting through our day, we forget.

The pause is the sad state of affairs in customer service. We treat them with no regard and transparency, and eventually, even the most bright-eyed of retail workers begins to act like the air has been let out of their balloon. They act in that flat, dis-interested way that most of us customers find infuriating. It's a shame on both sides of the cash register.

If you don't consciously remember, with each encounter, that you're dealing with a Human Being and not a machine, start today. We've all had retail jobs, or suffer with one currently. Most of us can relate to the lack of regard we endure in those positions; it doesn't feel good at all. So, don't pass it on. Try an experiment next time you're in a store- Deliberately look for a name badge and use the person's name when they wait on you. If that's not possible, take a sec to look them in the eye saying, "Thank you very much for your help today!" See if it doesn't change the look on their face. I know it will make you feel better. It simply will.

One of my favorite Dave Barry quotes is, "A person who is nice to you but mean to the waiter is not a nice person." We think of being mean as specific rude behavior, but ignoring a person is a form of meanness that is endured much more frequently. So, are you a nice person? Would a sales associate be able to say so conclusively based on your encounter with them?

Oh, here's another thing: Please, let's stop acting as if the tele-marketer is a roach that crawled through our phones and into our houses. I know they're annoying. But, it's the concept/company that's annoying; they are not annoying-they're people doing a job. Based on how most of us react when called, do you honestly think that any person who had a choice of another job would deliberately be a tele-marketer?? Not unless they're insane! So, please, be kind in your dismissal and refusal of their product. They're Human Beings trying to get through their day earning a very small wage, enduring lots of negative energy. You can be the one note of kindness they may get in a shift.

It's simple enough, costs you nothing, and is the very least we can do. And, ask Fast Food Nicky, it can mean more than you may ever know.

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly