Life on the other side

It's been a hot minute. A lot has happened in that hot minute let me tell you.

I know I hardly had readers when I was trying to blog actively so maybe this random blog won't get a view. If that's the case, I'm writing this blog more for me than for you.

I've hung up my pen and notepad for good and let me tell you how much my mental health has been soaring because of it.

Serving is a GREAT way to make money. Truly, that's why it took me so long to walk away from it. You work a couple shifts a week during school, make a bunch of cash and go on with your studies. For me, serving gave me the most anxiety I have ever felt and at points, I wished that my car would go (gently) into a ditch on the way in and I would miss my shift. Damn my good snow tires for never making that a reality (haha).

This summer, I took on a job that was in the field I am going to school for and it just felt so much better for me. There are some people who make a wonderful career out of serving. They like it, they're good at it and it pays their bills. I hated it and I sucked at it. I was constantly feeling inadequate because I couldn't do it and other staff members were constantly annoyed with my smaller sections and I was just so anxious all the time.

I just stopped one day and said 'I need to walk away'. And I did just that. I am finishing up my second chunk of education and I am about to transition into the working world. More importantly, into the field I want to be in.

I am happy to say that I woke up one day and made the decision that the tips weren't worth it for me anymore.

Thanks for the read. I hope you are all doing well and if you're a server, I hope that holiday tipper gets seated in your section soon.

xoxo

- A

PS. It's been over a year since I served a table and I STILL get server nightmares from time to time!

Is this thing on?

Hello readers...


Well are there even readers anymore? I never had many but lately, my page feels like a ghost town. Let me know if you're still reading.. I've always been a sucker for other people's praise.


I quit my job.

A student without a summer job. AKA my biggest nightmare. There was just too much going on at that place and I felt it was best for me if I resigned. So I did.

Getting a new job is not likely as I am moving to a new city for school in just over a month.

Things will work out..

Stay tuned.

xoxo

- A

Hakuna Matata

Hello readers (does anyone still read my blogs anymore?),

These last couple of weeks have been pretty uneventful but that was exactly what I've needed. I have been resting, relaxing, seeing friends and family, cleaning up my room and getting ready to move out for school and catching up on Pokemon Go (don't knock it till you try it).

I feel ready to start school. I feel refreshed and eager to get back into a learning environment. I finished summer school with great marks so I feel pretty good about myself.

I got an email today from my University and found out that I made the Deans' List for this last year. I have always been a pretty average student so this was really exciting. My parents and siblings were super happy for me :).

So far we still do not have a roommate for the vacant room BUT I know someone looked at the house today and liked it so we might not get what we want and have the room stay vacant. I mean, at this point, I just have to stay positive and go with the flow. I am naturally very pessimistic so I have been trying to work on it. From what I hear, this person seems normal and respectable so that's good at least.

In terms of employment - I am still a bum! As soon as I move out on Saturday, I am hitting up all of the restaurants in my area. I know it's super late to be applying but hey, I got a job last year and I had applied at the beginning of October so hopefully the serving gods will be looking down on me again.

I hope everyone has been enjoying the last couple weeks of summer and are mentally preparing for the very busy labour day weekend!

xoxo

- A

Officially Un-Employed

Well I have been finished work for about a week now and while I couldn't wait to get out of that place, I have become incredibly bored!

School is all finished as well and I have two more weeks until I move back out for school. I spent the weekend at a friend's cottage and that was really nice and relaxing. I had been looking forward to that for like a month so I'm sad that it's already over.

In other news, I was not offered a position at my old restaurant when I go back to school so I was super disappointed about that. It is so impossible to find a serving job for the school year because no one wants to hire someone that'll leave after the school year.

Well I will just need to stay positive and try to find a job as soon as I get out there.

Send me luck readers,

xoxo

- A

The Holiday Tipper Strikes Again!

Tonight was mayhem as we were disgustingly short-staffed but that didn't stop me from getting the holiday tip once again!

Three women were sat in my section during the crazy dinner rush. They didn't strike me as anything as they seemed somewhat unkept. I honestly did not expect much from them. They were't waiting long but my manager greeted them anyways. I could tell he knew them (so they were regulars). I had taken their drink orders and before I had brought them back he had gotten their all you can eat salads. I knew he wasn't doing this because he thought I wasn't getting there in time. He was just being friendly with them because he knew them.

After I thanked him for taking care of them while I was getting caught up on other tables trying to pay he said "make sure to take awesome care of them because they will give you a fantastic tip". So I did. They were very sweet and patient anyways so it wasn't like it was difficult.

I genuinely enjoy waiting on people who are friendly and easy going. So if you go to a restaurant and you're service is bad... maybe you're an asshole.

Or maybe you just have a bad server.

Getting off track here...

So it comes time for them to settle up and their bill was 40 dollars. When I looked at the debit receipt it read:

Tip: $60.

Almost shit my pants. But then they told me that half was for the manager because he was wonderful. But still, 30 dollars on a 40 dollar bill is an AMAZING tip. I was so grateful.

So my message is this: never judge a book by its cover. Seriously. The nicest people come in all forms. And nasty people do too. Remember that.

Tomorrow is my last day at the restaurant and I must say that I am a little sad to be saying good bye to the staff. I have really grown to love a few of them.

xoxo

- A

I Will Survive!

I survived my shift tonight!

I have been off for 5 days and it is always hard coming back after a break. I went to work feeling like an elephant was sitting on my chest but guess what? It wasn't that bad! I had a party of 9 and 3 other tables at the same time (which a lot my laugh at) but that is a big deal for me. I stayed calm, cool and collected.

I get scared when I find out I have a party of more than 7 people.

When I had first started serving when I was 19, I was thrown into doing a party of 15. They were middle-aged women, were constantly changing seats and had like 6 different bills and I just got in the weeds and they called me names that I won't repeat here but let's just say that it's been three years since that and I still get nervous for parties.

Tonight was good though. The party flagged down my GM and told her how fantastic I was. My other manager even pulled me aside today and told me he has noticed my improvement. It's funny how someone taking a minute out of their day to tell you something like that can make you feel wonderful!

Give it a try. Tell a co-worker that they kick ass! You never know, they could be having a bad day and that may impact them more than you realize.

Pay it forward!

Good luck to everyone starting the work week (AKA Friday-Sunday in the restaurant world),

- A

Still New? That's alright! You Can Pre-Close This Weekend!

So I think the title says it all...

I just saw the schedule for next week and I was shocked to see that I will be pre-closing one night next weekend. It might be because a lot of people have booked the long weekend off but I still am confused because we all know I pretty much suck at serving. I get stressed when I have 4 or more tables (I know, don't judge me) but the restaurant I am working at is very demanding in terms of refills so I have been told that 4 tables there is like 6 tables in normal restaurants. I think it's also important to note that I have been no later than the third server cut during my shifts so a pre-close seems like a big jump.

Sometimes I wonder why I stick with serving. I hate going to work everyday and feel EXTREME anxiety leading up to shifts. I am a weak server and know it along with everyone else but I keep trying to stick with it. Why do I do it to myself? The money is great and I am a student but at what point will I think my mental health is worth more than a big tip?

Maybe once I graduate and get a job? Who knows! This world is big and crazy and full of surprises.

Thanks for reading this ranty blog,

- A