Smile please
Every society/community is known for their prominent vices & virtues in which they grow up. Myself, being born and brought up in Delhi, on the virtues side, we are considered genuinely warm and hospitable people. On the other hand, on the vices side, we are considered notorious for the ease with which cuss words gets flung in our speech, and the extreme level of bargaining we can resort to. So much so, if the other person says, ‘ it is free’, we shall than ask for two instead of being happy in getting one free.
Habits once formed goes a long way in defining us, and it’s not easy to get rid of them in this life. Subconsciously, we conduct ourselves in line with life style we have learnt to live with. So, every time we go for shopping, or hire a service, it’s common for us to negotiate on the price/service charge in every transaction we do. (I am talking about the pre-Mall times). Every time you hire a Rick or an auto, or a cab, you shall haggle on the fare quoted (prior to Uber, Ola times) and try to squeeze on fare payable.
Similarly, whenever we call a plumber or electrician for some work, and in case he demands Rs.430/-, inclusive of material he brought and used for the repair work, if nothing else, we will try to settle for at least Rs.400/-, hoping that he would have already over billed us in the cost of material he brought in and used. Many a times, if the plumber/electrician doesn’t oblige us, it shall lead to unnecessary altercation and bad blood. And look at the amount at stake, a Rs.30/-, may be Rs.50/-, or worst case may be Rs.100/-.
Once my wife counselled me and said that a Rs.30/-, Rs.50/-, or Rs.100/- may not matter to us, but matters a lot to these people, and I shouldn’t get involved in bargaining such small amounts. Instead I should round-off amount payable to nearest hundred and give that with a genuine smile. Such people, who help attend our distress call, shall remember you for your so called benevolence, and shall come running whenever next you shall requisition them. I appreciated her point of view, and am now enjoying stress free life ever since I stopped bargaining with them. Rather, I now feel happy when they leave my place with a smile; for the little amount of tip that I add to their service charge payable, every time I summon them.
We have ever since continued with our practice of tipping in cash, reasonably but adequately, whenever we use Uber, Auto or Rickshaw for our commute. And the smile in return on their faces makes us feel rich, and in turn you become a reason for someone's smile.
We have carried this practice of tipping forward to the Amazon, Swiggy, Zomato delivery guys too, who bring in ‘ happiness’ at our door steps, no matter whether it is sunny, rainy or frosty winter outsides. During summers, we try to help these people with a bottle of water and a pack of biscuits too.
The world is hard on many people, and especially such delivery guys, auto-cab drivers, who toil all day out in inclement weather, but are a cause of comfort to us, even when they charge us for their services. I call such service providers as Angels, as they bring us home happiness and comfort.
Let’s become a source of bringing smile on their faces. Helping those smile, who makes our life easier and comfortable. Give them in return happiness to be really happy. Make someone smile and see yourself smiling too.
Believe me, it’s therapeutic. Both get healed.