The Wait That Was Worth It

How kindness can outshine inconvenience

Photo by Mahavir Shah on Unsplash

My food was taking forever. Were they slaughtering, de-feathering, and cleaning the chicken before cooking and prepping it for my meal? It felt like it. In a moment of failed meal planning—or just plain lack thereof—there I sat in the drive-thru line at one of our family’s favorite take-out restaurants. The cost was $10+ per plate, so it’s slightly more high-end than just plain fast food. (At least, that’s what I tell myself to feel better.)

So there I was, stuck somewhere between growing impatience and a blood-sugar crash as the car idled. I could practically hear its grumbles. Like me, it enjoys being on the move, not sitting still or inching forward in anticipation of something potentially exciting.

When I finally reached the window, the attendant was waiting with a genuine smile and the kind of energy that makes you forget you were just debating whether to gnaw on your own steering wheel. She was excited to help with whatever I needed. (Between you and me, they have this seasonal Asian sauce my husband and I are borderline addicted to, so of course I had to ask for extra when prompted.) She was hospitable while welcoming me to the finish line. I didn’t feel like a bother. In that brief exchange, she not only lifted my spirits but made me feel like I was the only patron at the restaurant.

This is the type of customer support I aim to provide in my day job. So…what made her so successful?

Maybe it was because…

• She didn’t make the wait my fault.

• She focused on what she could control, not the fryer revolution behind her.

• She brought genuine warmth to an inconvenient moment.

• She saw a person, not just a car in a line.

I’m grateful for small interactions like hers, the ones that can turn a day teetering on the edge into something steady. And since we’re in the thick of Thanksgiving season, it reminded me that gratitude often shows up in these tiny moments the world rushes past, delivered by people who choose kindness in the middle of chaos.