Learn Someone's Name

and I don't just mean anybody. There are certain people we see everyday and speak to but never learn their names. It will really make a diffence for them and you.

For example, I eat at Chick-fil-A a fair bit. And I always go to the same cashier. And, try as she might, she never can remember my name. I apparently will always be "Alex." But that's okay with me because she is putting forth the effort.

Well, what really got me to thinking about this was Pier 1. Anyone who knows me knows I have a bit of a shopping problem (I'll touch on that later.) Anyway, I go in the store all the time, and they recognize me now. They even tease me a little. But they've yet to start calling me by name which,when you're a pretentious snob like I tend to let myself be, can become an issue. People like that want to be recognized--especially when my shopping habits might have contributed to some of the employees' hirings...Ha!

As I let this name issue fester and boil inside of me though, I realized something. They can't call me by name until they see it on my credit card, but I couldn't call any of their names either. There are lot more customer names for them to remember than sales clerks names for the customers to remember too. So, now my goal is to make a note of the employees' names the next time I am in the store which will, no doubt, be soon. So I guess my pretension is thrown out the window when I consider the value of learning someone else's name. It's just that--value, not recognition. So there, I suppose I may be decent person after all...

But back to that shopping issue. I said I'd probably be in Pier 1 soon, but I just don't know that I can afford to. On one level, I am to the point where there isn't much left to buy. On the other hand, there isn't much in the way of funds to buy. And you might think I am crazy, but I did read an article the other day that said that guys are more likely to make impulse purchases that gals and that their purchases are also more often than not considerably more expensive than the gals'. Big screen tvs, boats, pool tables, etc...they add up. Now, I would have to admit that I have none of those. But I justify it all like this--my spending problem isn't a problem because I'm single and have to shop twice as much to make up for there being no female shopper in my house. Does that fly?

Well, it's a miracle if you made it this far in the post so pat yourself on the back, and maybe I'll pick you something up next time I'm at Pier 1.