The Walking Audacity

Let me start by saying a welcoming Hello! It’s 2022 and we are nowhere near short of humans in this world. Something that lays heavy on me as I interact with the human race, is that we frequently avoid positive contact and communication from other humans now. Let me explain in some further detail. Have you recently went out to eat and observed the customer service you were provided? No, really, did you actually observe the service of you and others? Recently, it has become custom to be short and crude to others around, demanding food arrives immediately at our table, telling the server threats near immediately without any cordial conversation at all. In this short story, we will talk about the walking audacity of humans and our tendencies towards each other.

The other evening, a friend and I decided to catch some AC in a local fast food chain. Mind you, near everywhere is currently short staffed and ran into the dirt. We ordered our food on the annoying computer screen ourselves, laughed at how far fast food chains have come and we then sat and waited a mere 10 minutes for our semi large order. We noticed our drinks hadn’t been included, so my friend approached the counter graciously and asked for our drinks. With no hassle the clerk immediately remedied it for us and thanked us for our kindness. As we eat our meal an older, well dressed woman comes in, who had avoided the long line in the drive through and eagerly bursted through the door. She soon became inpatient with the computer screen, but she managed to get her meal ordered. Throughout her wait time, of a whopping 10 minutes, she began to become very unhappy. Tapping her feet, talking to herself on purpose, loud enough for employees to hear, rambling on about how horrid this place is, the service is unacceptable and how she would never return. After a wait of what couldn’t have even been 2 minutes, she approached the counter and began her outragged speal. The poor clerk was in a bind, operating the drive through, food line and cashier, he was very quiet and explained they were short staffed and it will be just a bit longer. The lady, outraged, sat down and continued her complaints. Once her food came she grabbed the bag, with no thank you, and viscously tore into the bag to ensure her order was complete. As she walked out the door, outraged, she said loudly “never again!”

In our perspective we had nothing but laughter that bursted out when the lady left the restaurant. To us, we couldn’t believe how someone expects to walk into a place like that and expect 5-star dine in restaurant service, from a fast food chain. Is it so hard to say thank you? To be patient, kind and empathetic? To me, I thrive off of positive interactions with society. I love to leave a lasting impression, perhaps even one that is remembered the next time I roll in. It’s pleasant to be pleasant, it is rewarding and sometimes it is merely just an endorphin released that can create a better mood for either you or the customer service representative. The walking audacity of humans to be cruel to unknown others is becoming a threat to our society. Who are we if we don’t interact with other humans? For example, dogs who don’t interact with other dogs can become aggressive, shy or secluded. We’re all animals right? So doesn’t this ring true to humanity as well?

Like many, I thrive off of positive interactions. What can you do in your day to day life to create a positive interaction? To have a walking audacity to create kindness? Isn’t that what this world needs? Can we re-create the way we interact, perhaps even create a better conversation. I challenge you to leave a lasting positive impression, see how it impacts not only you, but the stranger you influenced as well.