A Testament to Service

In light of the recent pandemic its become evident that we are all connected. That one small, unseen force can knock on each of our doors and has since up rooted normal life as we know it. 

My life decided to 360. The everyday I knew halted and I was eyes wide open to the fact that relying on this semi-comfortable life I was leading, just wasn't going to cut it for lil ol' me. Everything I had worked for getting good at up to this point had now been deemed non-essential.

Looking back over my life one of service, hospitality, events, hosting, management, you name it - the works! I realized I had always been standing knee deep in ok. In just doing what it took to get by and never really engaging in my worth. I had the skills and common sense of a highly trained individual and I had been working hard for my money instead of making my money work hard for me.

I have since set out to commit to better career and personal goals because I always, always saw my service in the hospitality industry as this middle ground. As my step towards the next thing. All the while too distracted to actually concentrate on said next thing. Frig.

The J.O.B - this just over broke business!! Damn you. No seriously, damn YOU.

I have let you rule without realizing the ramifications!! *insert personal frustration noise here*

The thing that paid the bills and sometimes brought me savings. The thing that always brought me cash and the one that constantly stressed me the fuck out and wore down my physical being. Tendonitis, pinched nerves and a bad neck to name a few. 

I have always seen service as the "gig" bit never to be taken seriously. Still every single time I clocked in for any shift I threw on my smile and did the absolute best I could. The stories are insurmountable in length and yet constantly come up on replay in the back of my mind's eye. They are with me forever and have shaped me into who I am today and how I deal.

You know the ones I'm talking about. The repeat stories of the all too infamous regulars and pure blooded alcoholics. The ones who tip too little and stay too long. The hoards of women who love to gossip and demand way too much on their very average tip. The jerk-offs who litter their table and throw their cutlery in the blob of ketchup. It's the stories of clients you love to forget and hate when you remember.  It's the trays of shot you poured, the glasses you broke and the endless amount of impressions you made. They are the stories that make history and the reason why most of us know how to take no shit.

For these stories are what compile the coding of my life. 

Over 18 years. 

Over 30 jobs.

Mix it in with a bit of everything else life skill related and I am your true heinz 57 mix. We all are. Your ever budding entrepreneurs, students and people on their way. For it is a special breed of human who ends up in a lifetime of service and to those I commend you outright - gold star. Your never ending penance should be respected in the highest authority for you never gave up and you made it - GO YOU! Seriously and without sarcasm, I know way too many of you and you're truly the coolest fucking people I know with the best stories and thickest common sense.

As of late though my life decided to force my hand to wake up and I have since forth been reminded of my outright goal. To help end the stigma of our world thinking service is anything less than virtuous. 

In fact, any form of service that helps you should be respected and above all not taken for granted. For it wasn't too long ago when this exact line of work was seen as honorable. See early 20th century. I mean even Jesus himself saw it as the right thing to do. To give unto others of yourself to serve the people and therefore the greater good.

So kudos to my people, you servers and bar maids. You theatre folk, church owners and backstage people alike. The flight attendants, cleaners & travel people too. To shop keepers, hairstylists, nail techs, facial techs and even the beard groomers and massage people too. To the DJs and tour guides, to the wedding planners and caterers. To the back of house people, who never get praise and to the independent companies out there just trying to get made. To the actors, singers and street performers too. To the retailers in malls who always get drowned out - yes you too! To the Wonderland staff - who we'd never think about! To the dancers, the athletes and all the hospitality folk. To all of you out there currently living without. This goes out to you without a single doubt. 

Though we are often overlooked it is clear - oh! SOOO clear! The world just isn't the same without us here!

The fun doors are closed. 

The dancefloors are empty. 

The reality we thought might never come has finally hit and if this is all you've ever relied on, the buck definitely stops here. So what do we do besides take a huge bow? The life sentence of restaurant service is what my life's been about. Endless private party bartending where my phone never stopped ringing to silence followed by empty pockets and nothing but wondering. Although life is what we made it and we all may be seemingly ok, how would you feel if your solidity just faded away?

Let my words today reflect everything any of us in this industry have ever worked for. 

It means something!! 

For we are those who smile at you when we're hurt and show up even if we fall. We are a special breed and deserve to also rise against this fall. Not all of us carry that common sense seed but trust me on this one we are a dying breed.

I implore you. I see you! And I am screaming your name! 

This is your life! You got this and trust me, it's your game!

Find what makes you tick besides the one thing you did. Figure out what makes you light up inside and chase it right now with all of your might. We may not ever see another day like today but there's something I know I just can't live this way. We must wake up now or face never ending plight for this battle is one we can no longer fight. For there's something that burns in me brighter today and that's the confidence in knowing my life isn't a one act play.

To see my life in service follow me on Instagram >> InsideKT