One would think, given my close relationship with Darien, that I would know what to say- but I'm afraid this baffles me as much as everyone else. Kaz makes a good point, however- that seeing a change in one person can really give one the inspiration to keep trying.

I worked at the same store as Darien until recently, and we had one customer who routinely came in and wreaked havoc on those of us in the Copy Center. She was mean, ungrateful, demanding, insulting, and an all around very not nice person.

One day, she came in when I was working by myself. I had decided previously that, the next time she came in, instead of getting mad at her and treating her like she treated us, I would try my hardest to be nice to her, despite what she did.

Would you believe it worked? Maybe she was just in a better mood that day, but she's been nice to me ever since. And I like to think that, by going beyond what she expected, I made her day a little brighter. That really is a great feeling, too.

I'm not that lucky with everyone, of course. Like Darien says, caring is hard work. Sometimes I just don't have the patience for it. (Though my job's never been threatened because of it. ^_^) At least we know we have a great group of people here on RinkWorks who *do* care, and who are sympathetic when we vent our frustrations, right?

~Mina "just realized she forgot about the hash browns in the oven! Oh no!" moon