Waitress

Hey there.

I think this is so relevant to today, especially in this whole cost of living crisis we’ve currently got going on in the U.K. ( I’m not entirely sure where you are located)

It really draws on this feeling of working for a living and how it eats so much of our lives. Not just in retail, but any job that requires us to turn up every day and give a company our time.

Much to think on the metaphor here. Thank you for sharing.

-M

Thanks M. I'm  a Yank from the U.S. but my father's family were bloody Brits! lol
I love England and have visited there many times. London and Cambridge are nice, but I really prefer the small towns and countryside.
Everything here is "high as a cat's back" food, gas (petrol), utility bills. Like my mother used to say, "It takes a lot of money just to be poor."
- Cheers mate!

Oh. It’s not just the waitress, a CEO is oft left feeling depleted & exhausted with no time for even the simplest of pleasures whilst slaving away. And money doesn’t always make that much sense but the way society is monopolised, we have limited options if it’s a choice between poverty, homelessness and living somewhat comfortably, without the struggle.

True. We call it the decimal point theory, that is, as your income goes up so do your bills. When you can afford the finer things in life you get them and the result is you're still just as broke in a bigger house with a nicer car as you were before.

Dear S,

How well written the monotony life can be. Especially when money is scarce and people can be so thoughtless. Your observation in this write is so compelling. Wonderfully contemplative  piece. H🌷

Thanks. I've had lots of jobs over the years at all levels. I've never worked in the restaurant industry though. I was just thinking about people who work serving others and are often taken for granted or looked down upon and how they must see everyone else as living a better life and how they can feel trapped, discouraged, and unappreciated.

I genuinely believe that those with
hardships...

Have a divinity that...

Well...

That goes into some other things...

For me, it calls into question the purpose of existence...

For example, multiple perspectives have arrived
at the conclusion that we must transcend the material world...

You might think...

How can you transcend the material
world when the material world has so many pressing demands...

I genuinely believe that one
can transcend the world in any circumstance...

I mean...

It's like the prisoner with a glow...

Of know...

(You know...

My mom's HS counselor
told her she could only ever be a waitress...

So she dropped out...

Then went back...

And got a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership...

Also...

I remember I got stranded...

I had a bag of drugs and got kicked off the greyhound...

(We stopped at this...

It was closed down gas station in the middle of Alabama...)

Out of nowhere this car appears...

They give me a ride to the truck stop...

A waitress there ends up staying with me till the dawn
and giving me a ride to the bus station...

She was so wise...

Like...

I will never forget her...

She could see into my soul...

I had a series of strange encounters around that time...

With people...

Who seemed supernatural...

There's lots of poetry in your comments. Life hack - Never let anyone else define who you are. I would say as the Bible says, "as much as possible live a quiet and peaceful life." And again from scripture, be content in whatever situation you find yourself.
Another good quote comes from the poet Maya Angelou who sais, "When someone shows you who they really are, believe them the first time."
. . . and if you're ever in Alabama again please let me know. I have lots of friends there.

This is grit, and you have struck a poignant chord with me. The drudgery. Great write.
Regards
James.

I would have reading listed it but I have run out of Reading List tokens.

Thanks! All jobs can become a grind. I found that it is the people you work with that makes or breaks the job. Work is where we spend most of our waking hours. I had a boss once who said, "If you can't have fun at work, you're probably doing it wrong." Another quote, I believe from a famous baseball player, goes, "It wouldn't be work if there wasn't something else you'd rather be doing."

The pay is the problem and the hours. Too many hours not enough pay, and short breaks. Any job is fine if you get enough pay and enough free time to enjoy your life. If they raised pay and lowered hours there would be no such thing as job disatisfaction. Still I enjoy the image you created.
Regards
James

Thanks again!