Overheard a waitress talking about regulars and it hit different

I was eating alone at a diner in Tulsa last week and heard a waitress tell the cook "Table 4 thinks I forgot their order but I'm just avoiding the couple because they never tip." Made me think about all the times I've been the annoying friend who expects patience but gives nothing back. Got me wondering if any of my old burned bridges happened because I was taking more than I was giving. Anyone else ever realize they were the problem after hearing someone else get called out like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

troythompson16d ago

Oh man that hit me right in the gut. I had a similar wake up call a few years back when my buddy's girlfriend straight up told me I was the reason they stopped inviting me to game nights because I'd always push for my choice of pizza and then never chip in. I thought I was being fun and opinionated but really I was just taking up space and energy without giving anything back. It stung bad but she was right, I was that guy who expected everyone to bend over backwards for me while I gave nothing in return. Now I catch myself doing little stuff like making sure I tip my barista even if they mess up my order, just to break the habit of being a taker.

mary77615d ago

The tipping thing is such a small act but it really reveals who pays attention and who just takes. I notice it everywhere now, like people who never say thank you when you hold the door, or someone who always lets their friend pick up the tab and just never offers to get the next one. A lot of folks just float through life grabbing what they can without even realizing they're draining the people around them. Once you start seeing those little moments of give and take, it's hard to unsee who's putting in the effort and who's just coasting.