What do you want me to do about it...
I'm surprised--almost indignant.
We are dining out with friends at a local restaurant. To say we're never a rowdy group would be "a lack of candor." It isn't fine dining, and we aren't socialites. At the same time we have expectations around customer service--minimum standards, so to speak.
Scott is one who sparks engagement with strangers. Our young waitress enjoys the interaction and begins joking around with us. Like a playful puppy that won't quit. (I'm beginning to think introverts make the best servers.)
It is a crowded table adding to the convenience for an elbow to catch the corner of a pitcher of Thousand Island Dressing. An orange mess ensues.
Our waitress reappears, and we solicit her help to clean up.
"We spilled the dressing."
"What do you want me to do about it?"
Ummm, I don't know..."Help us clean up?"
Her words aren't intended to be wise. I suppose she is trying to be playful because Scott opened that door. Pandora's box! But her words stick like messy, orange Thousand Island dressing.
Every time I replay the words, I shake my head.
"What do you want me to do about it?" It's actually a good question.
Have you survived life without knowing more than a few complainers? Complainers tell you things for the sake of grumbling. When you ask, "What do you want me to do about it?" they haven't a clue.
I like the question, apart from the response from our waitress-- timing is everything. When there is a problem or a difficult situation it helps to know what we are going to do about it and what is expected of us.
When I'm concerned or restless about something, I sometimes have internal conversations and ask myself what I'm going to do about it. Proactive. The stuff behavioral therapists give a thumbs-up.
Spilled dressing on a restaurant table?
"What do you want me to do about it?"
We want our young, playful waitress to help clean it up so we can carry on with our meal. That's what.
Comments
Post a Comment