Last night Nolemana and I went to Bento Plus for dinner. Itʻs our favorite Japanese restaurant around here. (Try read da reviews if u like see why!)
We got there around 7, which is late for us, and it was still busy. Our server was rushed and it was obvious that she was very tired after a long day of working. She was polite; just very busy, and didn’t time for any chit chat.
We ate our delicious meal and she brought us the check; I looked at her tired, hot face, and my heart went out to her. When she came back to give me my card and receipt back, I said to her, “I hope you can get some rest tomorrow. You’ve been so busy here today.”
Her face just lit up, and instead of rushing away as she had before, she stopped to say that she would get rest today, that she’d be spending the whole day at the Korean church she goes to, and that would be rest. Turns out she lives in Aloha (and pronounced it correctly, too, not like “Alowa” like most people here pronounce it (long story dat)). She stayed talking to us for a few more minutes, a smile on her face, and for a little while, the tiredness on her face was erased. She knew that I saw her as a person, not just someone bringing our food and taking away our dishes.
A week ago at Les Schwab Tire Store a customer loudly berated the young lady at the desk because the customer wahine was going to have to wait for a few extra minutes, and I could tell that her words hurt someone who was only trying to be helpful. As I walked by, I said to the young woman, “I hope the rest of the customers you talk to today make up for that woman’s rudeness. You did a good job trying to help her.”
It never ceases to amaze me how just a few kind words can have such an impact on others. Good or bad, our words can bring up or put down. We have the power to lighten a load or make it more heavy. We have the opportunity every single day to see with our hearts and not just with our eyes. We can bless or we can curse. We can choose be snarky or we can choose aloha. I choose the path of blessing and aloha.
A Mānoa Girl's Bloggie 
Dass da way Moki. Jutta an I hav to do dat alla time hea in Germany. Seems like everibodi run aroun’ wit wun mad kine face an in wun rush. So sometimes we jus’ look at dem, say Hello an smile an believe it owah not it does change peeps. We do da same like u at da resturants too. Ho da rude some peeps no? Luv wot u doin’ to spread Aloha.\m/
Mahalo, Babooze…. spreading aloha so important!! Good foa u and Jutta foa doing dat!
Oh, this is so true. Even among those of us who don’t always call it “living Aloha” – in a way, it’s just an extension of the Golden Rule (I know I have had bad days where a kind word from someone made ALL the difference) or of loving our neighbors. (I think a big part of loving our neighbors is seeing the person, whoever they are, as a person, and not an obstacle to what we want).
I’m far from perfect at it, but I try. Good on you for helping that tired server!
You are so right. And even just a few kind words can brighten up an otherwise gloomy day. It doesnʻt take much, does it? And yes, seeing the person, not just an obstacle to getting what we what. Well said!
It stresses me out when the “wait person” is all rush rush because more chance of making mistakes and forgetting. Rarely am I in all that a rush and I usually tell the person its no rush . Or tell’um just leave the pitcher of water and were good.
True story: Oh one time we were in a nice restaurant. The waitress was a Mexican girl and this haole couple behind us was just bad mouthing Hawaii, the people are like this or dat; all ugly stuff she was saying. Me & DH was big eye long neck & laffing. Haole lady told da Mexican girl don’t ever go to Hawaii blah blah blah. When the waitress came to our table DH told her don’t listen to dat Wera. I was just laughing and I told the girl, I’m from Hawaii and you look like us you be ok, just don’t ack like her. And she just cracked up. Its all about the attitude. LOL
Love that story, Lika! Sounds like the potluck I went to where people knew I’m from Hawai’i and were bad mouthing it all over the place. As if I wasn’t there. Maybe they’re related to “your” people in da restaurant!
Yep. All about da attitude. For reals. Mahalo for stopping by and taking the time to write the story!
I just love your kind heart.
Mahalo nui, Jalna. Thereʻs so much we can do to brighten peopleʻs lives, yeah?
Yes, what is the deal with that anyway….there is a place in Oregon called “Aloha”? How the heck did that come to be? Is it full of Hawaii ex-pats? Just curious 🙂
Yeah, thereʻs a place named Aloha. But the reason they pronounce it Alowa is because although it was named the same as a town back east, somebody messed up the spelling. So itʻs spelled Aloha, but pronounced Alowa. Go figga.
The world would be a lot better place if there were more people like you and Nolemana. And for those people who had bad experiences in Hawai`i–well, if that’s the attitude they took *to* Hawai`i, it’s not wonder that’s the attitude they got *from* Hawai`i. Aue.
Mahalo, my friend. I agree. I think people who come back from Hawaiʻi with a bad attitude usually take it with them. Iʻm not saying that itʻs all perfect back home, but what those people at the potluck were saying was more about them than about the folks back home.
It was so weird how those people pounced within five minutes of finding out about where I was born and raised (my name gives it away, yeah?) They certainly did have an attitude, and I suspect youʻre right, that it preceded their visit to Hawaiʻi. Mahalo, my friend.
Oh hello dear friend! What a perfect post-I also loved reading the comments! Didn’t realize there was a thing against Hawaians! I bet I spelled that wrong-please forgive me…But your story about treating wait staff with respect and kindness is perfect-too bad there are those rotten apples that infect the good apples! Or something like that! 🙂
Thanks, Debra. I totally get what you mean about rotten apples. The sad thing is that I was a guest of someone in the group, and the people started hammering about Hawaiʻi within five minutes of finding out Iʻm from there. Really sad. Thanks for stopping by!
Beautiful, Mokihana! You are a beautiful example of Aloha in action. People do need a kind word, and more. Thank you for being a blessing to so many. I appreciate your heart for people.
Mahalo nui, Izzie. It’s so much better to let people know that we truly see them and that their presence in our lives really matters. I see you doing that all the time. Hugs, sista.