Talking of pain ...

I am mostly a hopeful person. I tend to focus on the positive almost 100% of the time. I also don’t complain much. Lately, when I am annoyed with stuff, I am letting that be known. This is new for me.

Last Wednesday, May 13^th, I wanted to treat all my co-workers to some coffee from Tim’s. In my quest for inclusivity, I found out that some peeps like steeped tea. So, I order both now. And I wanted this order delivered before everyone arrived. I had it timed perfectly and threw in some cookies and doughnuts. Guess what? Everything arrived except the coffee. The Uber driver was apologetic and said that he brought everything that he was given. We both called the store, and they were sure they did not miss a thing!

I was on speaker on the Uber driver’s phone and we had the receipt in front of us. We could clearly see the item, and we spoke with 2 or 3 people who all asked us for the same info and denied the existence of any coffee on our order. Finally, I asked for the manager. At this point in time, some of my co-workers started gathering around in the work room and clearly listening to the phone conversation. All of it got too much for me and I wanted it to end. I didn’t care for the missing coffee and felt bad for the delivery guy whose phone we had been using.

I said something like “I am usually a calm person, but this is making me angry. I don’t want the coffee. I just want to get off the phone and maybe order the coffee from elsewhere!” and I told the Uber guy to turn off his phone and be gone as he had a life to get back to, and I apologized for taking up his time. One of my co-workers also asked us to hang up as she decided she was going to use her period 1 prep to go to this Tim’s store and give a piece of her mind to them. So, I thanked the Uber guy and my fellow teacher and proceeded to go back to my classroom.

Barely 2 minutes later, the teacher came back to say her prep was lost, and then, I saw a call coming through. I answered and it was the Tim’s store calling to apologize and find out if someone could come and grab the coffee. They said they would throw in 6 doughnuts. I felt terrible because within the 2 minutes I had rated the order and for the first time ever in my entire life, I gave a 1-star rating. I was so mad. And this call made me want to take it back. As I was about to decline their offer, another co-worker showed up to go get the coffee and doughnuts.

I felt so fortunate to be surrounded by people who were willing to run around for me. I thanked the person on the phone, and I thanked my lovely colleague. It was almost time for my students to arrive, and I decided to get ready for them by calming down and focusing on the positive. I couldn’t change that unfortunate rating, and I shouldn’t feel guilty forever. Even as I was consoling myself, the office admin paged me to say that I had a phone call that I needed to take.

I wondered if it was a parent and why they were calling so early in the school day. Their kids were not even at school! It was the Uber guy. He didn’t know my personal number, but he was recently at my school and so called that number. He was calling to check up on me. He wanted to know if he should go to that Tim’s store and follow up for me.

What?! I couldn’t believe it. I thanked the gentleman and told him that someone was already taking care of it for me, and I appreciated his kindness. A few minutes later, the coffee and the half dozen doughnuts arrived, and all was well.

Yesterday, the teacher who couldn’t go since she lost her prep caught up with me. She said she had never seen me angry, but I had used that word, and she wanted to see what that looked like on me, and she was amused. She said that that wasn’t even her definition of anger, but it made her angry and she had really wanted to go and raise some hell. She was glad that someone went on my behalf, and it all worked out!

Each morning, I wake up with pain in my hands and feet. I can barely walk and barely get through the morning rituals. But I look forward to going to work and doing my thing. And I am glad I don’t let the pain stop me from doing what I love.