Sometimes I Forget How to Smile...

I started working at the coffee shop because I thought it would be easy going. People would come in for their caffeine fix and we'd chat, make them laugh, and leave them smiling. But what I didn't anticipate was how hard it can be... Meeting new people every day, most of whom are strangers with troubles they don't want to share but somehow do anyway... It's not that I mind listening or being there for others; in fact, sometimes I feel a little too much... But when you're on your feet all day, behind the counter, trying to make everyone happy while keeping up with orders and drinks and coffee art and small talk, it can be exhausting... And then there are days when someone walks in who doesn't seem interested in talking at all; they just want their coffee as quickly as possible and that's it. It breaks my heart a little bit every time because I genuinely love the human connection aspect of this job... So today, after six hours straight on the grind, I looked up from making another latte and realized I had forgotten how to smile myself...