I was closing yesterday, and it was the third consecutive day that I was just unhappy. It’s so gloomy outside and I had forgotten to take my meds and my head wasn’t clear and I kept messing up, not to mention a lot of stress in my personal life.

It was really slow, and I honestly don’t even remember seeing this woman at all, but she brought her drink up to bar and asked very politely and apologetically if I would steam her some more milk for her drink (she said even cold milk was okay and she didn’t want to be high maintenance), because she had forgotten to ask for no foam and wanted it a little milkier. I told her I absolutely would and asked her what kind, and assured her it was no big deal. She seemed super grateful, and I honestly think she was expecting me to be annoyed but I really didn’t mind and I always try to be pleasant. So I steamed some milk and held back the foam as I poured it into a short cup to hand to her.

She was astonished and gave me the sweetest look. I don’t think she was expecting me to hold back the foam or give her a separate cup. I don’t remember exactly what she said, but it’s was something along the lines of “Oh my god. That was so sweet! You didn’t have to do that. That was just so kind, thank you so much! Wow, what’s your name, *looks at my nametag* <name>? Thank you so much, <name>, I hope you have a good night!”

It may not be a huge deal, but I’m so used to being treated as subhuman and have people not even look at me while I’m working, and I spend my whole shift trying to make people happy and feel “seen and valued and appreciated” but half the customers I talk to won’t even look me in the eye. I teared up a little because it just feels so nice to be appreciated for once. She was so sweet and I just really needed that little pick me up.