So What Attitude Will You Choose?

I had a real life experience that reminded me about controlling our attitude. I was traveling and arrived at the airport rest room to experience four employees arguing. When I turned the corner to enter one of the bathroom stalls, I saw that four stalls were very dirty and badly needed to be clean. The four were arguing over who should clean the four toilets. I heard statements like, “I’ve done all I was assigned” or “She hasn’t done as many as me” or “My Shift is over and I am leaving, someone else can do it.” I then heard their voices get louder as a line of travelers was beginning to form. I stepped past them as I needed to empty my tank and get through security. And indeed the stalls were gross and needed to be cleaned. While I made my deposit I heard them talking louder about ‘her’ and their shifts. and why they should not have to clean anything else. As I exited they were still arguing and talking loud about how they were not going to do anything more. 

As I flew to my destination I thought about what I heard. When we are hired we agree to fulfill certain responsibilities of the job. We may not like everything we have to do, yet we agreed to do them for the amount we get paid. So to hear cleaning ladies argue about cleaning shocked me. It was an experience in bad attitudes from service employees. I shook my head and pondered the back story that could have brought all four employees to this very loud complaint session. 

When I landed at my destination, I ate lunch. While I sat and enjoyed my meal, and maintenance guy was changing the trash bags in the public trash recepticals. He was smiling and proceeded to go over to two or three tables where he noticed that people had finished their meals. He took their trash and then continued to finish his task. He seemed to be enjoying his work, eventhough he too was doing a menial job. So what made my experience so different from what I heard in the restroom? Both were doing what they were hired to do. Both were doing tasks many of us would never do. Both were in the public eye in a service role in the middle of a busy space. It boils down to attitude. He chose to be pleasant and enjoy the work, the four women chose to bicker and complain and turn the task into a grudge match. 

I can understand both choices. I have had bad days and come across as angry and belligerent. I have been tired and didn’t want to be around people. I also have seen the impact my poor attitude has on those around me. So I have learned to choose each day how I want to interact with the world. Some days that choice is easier than others. Some days I have to work hard to be teh me I want to be not the me my circumstances or state of mind seem to dictate.

So what choice will you make today when asked to do things you do not really want to do? How will your attitude impact the people in your world? And how do you continually choose the attitude you want each and every day? It really does matter and it impacts more than just you.