This week, organisations cross the world marked Customer Service Week, the theme being going the extra mile for the customer. As usually happens during this period, many businesses did their bit to contribute to tooth decay by offering their customers an endless supply of sweets.
Others went the extra mile and gifted their customers practical branded items that they will one day get to use or give out. Many more, especially banks, sent their customers messages of appreciation. I even got a WhatsApp message from my children’s school, which came as a pleasant surprise.
As I watched how businesses were marking this annual period, it occurred to me that I am my own customer, which means that I should appreciate myself, not just this one time a year, but every day. Think about it for a minute. What did it take you to get where you are today? Probably lots of sacrifice, sweat and tears.
There was also a lot of rejection along the way, but each time you were disappointed you got up and bravely started all over again because you knew giving up wasn’t an option. I have come to the conclusion that many of us live a dissatisfied and disgruntled life because we are constantly waiting for someone to appreciate us for everything we do. Your husband or wife, for instance. Your children, your co-workers, friends. Ungrateful relatives even. And there in lies the problem.
From experience, I have learnt, (and sometimes these lessons have been painful) that that precious thing you give or have given that benefits those around you may not be viewed as precious by the person who benefits from it. And so the appreciation never comes because that thing is taken for granted. The “thing” may be time given, money, denying yourself things you enjoy, even denying yourself materially.
Whatever stage you are in right now, the fact is that in spite of not getting the recognition, you may have to keep doing these things, but this doesn’t mean neglecting yourself while at it. In this season of my life, I have decided to become my own cheerleader, my own hype man, so to speak. Whenever I have the time and I can afford it, I will treat myself to what I enjoy, perhaps buy myself something new, and above all, speak positive things into my life and be kind to myself.
The other day, my daughter, who is in the early stages of teenage, was in front of the mirror preparing for church when she suddenly commented, “My forehead is big…” Now, if you have a teenager, body image is a big deal, and is something that many of them mentally struggle with, but that’s a story for another day.
Concerned, I explained to her that in a world that will not always be kind and fair to her, she owed it to herself to only say positive things to herself and to love herself just the way she was. And no, she doesn’t have a big forehead... I think that sunk in because her demeanor changed and she stopped sulking.
Happy Customer Service Week to you, dear reader. This column wouldn’t be what it is were it not for you.
