Or am I?
I am a photographer. I have my own photography business. I love to take pictures. I love the process, the "getting the shot" and the looks on the faces of my subjects when they see the outcome. I LOVE it!! Because of my circumstances, I needed to get another job to supplement my income. I am a waitress..."server" is really the more PC term, but I wait tables.
I wait tables because I'm good at it.
I wait tables because it's good money and flexible schedules.
I wait tables because I have to...
I have to swallow a little bit of pride every time I walk up to greet a table. I am a 41 year old, mother of three. Don't get me wrong...there is nothing to be ashamed of in waiting tables. It's a great job and very necessary. If you are good at what you do, you can make or break a dining experience for someone. How many of you have had a lousy server and your entire meal was messed up at their hands?
SIDEBAR: Please tip your servers well. In case you're not aware, we make $2.13 an hour. We survive on tips. Most of my family and friends didn't realize that until I told them. If they do a good job, tip them accordingly. They do, after all, SERVE you! *gets off her soap box*
Another great aspect of waiting tables is that it's a great diet/exercise program. Buckets of ice and full trays of food are heavy and you should see my arm muscles!! Not to mention walking back and forth for hours at a time, rarely having even a few moments to sit down. Most of the time, I am too busy serving food to others to eat anything myself, short of grabbing a bite as I run past the counter with a Coke refill for table 23. It's a great way to stay to fit and I am in the best shape of my life. How's that for a "glass is half full" angle?!?!
When I got this job, it was meant to be supplemental to my photography business. In the past year, I fear that I have become a "server that sometimes takes pictures". I hate that. I want to be a photographer...that's all I want to be! I need to take time to work on MY business and not the business of others.
I am gonna start focusing on that, but for now...
May I take your order? *gulp* Don't mind if I do...
No need to swallow your pride, Shan. You're taking care of your family, doing something you're good at, and you're getting something out of it -- and not just perspective. Put that pride out there, my friend. You've earned it.
ReplyDelete