Ok, you still have a few things to grab to wrap up your Christmas shopping, or maybe you’ve already completed your shopping, but you still want to browse other options... Whatever your reason may be to enter a department store, there’s something I want you to keep in mind. 

Retail workers are human to! Read that again, did it sink in? I say it so bluntly because well, after 8+ years of retail experience, the Holiday Season really brings out the “Karens.” I don’t even like using the name “Karen,” cause not all women named Karen, deserve that, but you definitely know what I mean when I say that.  

A cashier or even someone stocking the aisles in retail, they are really going through it, from questions on where to find something, “how much does this cost?!” to “Let me speak to your manager!” The people working, hear it all and see it all, and if you get snappy with em, please don’t be surprised if they snap back. Not saying it is ok, but I am saying, all of us as humans have a breaking point! 

Years prior to me getting into radio, I was a cashier and anything else my boss needed me for, and by Christmas Eve, you coulda asked me “Are you ok?” and tears would have streamed down my face. It’s not that I didn’t like what I was doing for money, but man do things get overwhelming and they blend into each other, longer working hours, on your feet all day, kids running around, grandma not knowing “what to get the teen that has everything.” You name it, all is a bit much. So. With all that being said, this is just a nice reminder to BE NICE to those in retail, and let us not forget those waiters, waitresses, bussers, baristas, cooks, anyone in the service industry really. We are all just trying our best. Merry Christmas. 

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