Sarah Warsi

The mental health of many people is no doubt overspent in 2020. This is indicative is so many forms – the recklessness of some drivers on the road, the sheer impatience of people in general.

I witnessed an example of this the other day at a local coffee shop – hence the title of this post. As I was waiting for my own order, a person stormed back in demanding that their bagel be remade ‘correctly’.

They were extremely irate and frustrated and quickly began belittling the person behind the counter who was repeatedly apologizing for the mishap. Profanity was being spewed with no regard for anyone else that was waiting in line. I just stood there with my mouth agape (which luckily was not obvious thanks to my face mask).

Like, okay, I get it, you are hungry, running late, and you’re annoyed that something wasn’t made up to your standards – but railing out the staff – who is working just as hard to pay their own bills – and making them feel like the size of a raisin is absolutely not the way to go about handling it.

I left once I got my order so I have no idea how that situation concluded – but it left a sour taste in my mouth for sure.

It just reminded me of how quickly people forget that no one is perfect and that everyone is dealing with their own silent battles.

After the tumultuous year we’ve had, it is more important than ever before to treat each other with respect first and foremost. You don’t have to like someone or be their best friend in order to simply respect them.

If you’re order isn’t made right then yes go back and ask for it to be corrected, but causing a scene and berating people over it is never the way to handle something. (Plus, do you really think they would want to perfect your bagel after speaking to them the way you did? Think about it!)

We all have our days when we get up on the wrong side of the bed but that is no excuse to take it out on a complete stranger who is just doing what they need to do to make their ends meet.

Anyways, I digress.

The crisp autumn chill is already starting to seep into the air (*insert thumbs down emoji*), but it is nice to see the leaves starting to change colour.

As hibernation season resurfaces (if it ever really went away!), here’s to continued patience, peace, and good health to everyone.

And although this phrase has become quite cliched by now, it remains true: we are all in this together.