A lifestyle choice...

Oh this is soooo not what you're probably thinking.

I went to work today, top down, after a Dr. appt which was more intimate than many relationships I've had, with a smile on my face and it wasn't from the Doctor's treatment. It was just a lovely day. Near the end of the day, I had someone at my front counter demanding something that was not going to be done. This was not her first visit demanding something that couldn't be done. Today's demand was well advertised as "not gonna be done, sweetheart!" It was posted on the door that this was not done. It was posted on the counter that this was not done. Anyone's common sense would tell you that what she wanted was not done for safety, consideration and any number of other reasons.

However, I negotiated and managed to do ALMOST everything she wanted except for one small aspect of it. It wasn't going to cost her time, money, energy or self pride. It just couldn't be done. She even acknowledged at one point that she didn't want ANYONE ELSE to get what she wanted because it wasn't safe. But she got angrier and angrier, berating the clerk for all kinds of professional and almost personal things.

I finally said "Even though it's against our usual policy, I've done everything you asked, except for one small thing that'll be solved in less than 30 seconds. What can I do to get you to stop talking to the clerk that way?"

At that point, she said that she wouldn't be talking to anyone and stomped out the door, turned around and kicked the bottom of the door.

Goodness knows I have had my share of confrontations with indifferent salespeople, rude museum docents and arrogant health care providers. I try not to be rude but I won't be distracted from the problem either. I usually get them politer and more service oriented before too long or at least acting that way. It's a win win or at least a win- let's hope they're like this for the rest of the day kind of win

And I wonder.... Do some people make a deliberate decision every morning to just be unpleasant? I'm not talking about the here and there bad day but a real lifestyle choice to ensure that life sucks. Do they choose to make every situation unpleasant and a lose-lose?

I mean, if these people down here can be at work during this event and smile, anyone should be able to....