They say we stand for nothing and
There’s no way we ever could
Now we see everything that’s going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don’t have the means
To rise above and beat it

So we keep waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

I think John Mayer had a little bit of a scumbag phase, which good for him cause same. Really the title is what I needed from him, he can keep his music and lyrics for the girlies.

Do you know what would happen if you thought about all the things you don’t like about the world and waited for them to change?

NOTHING.

The other day I was sort of thinking about my most audacious goals, and if I knew I could achieve them, what they would be. I made a whole list of them but that list sort of amounted to one simple thing: I’d change the world. Now I’m not talking about changing the whole words because as I sit here today I don’t have the power to do that. I do believe that I can change my little corner of the world though.

I believe that through interactions with guests, being a kind leader to the staff, and being a decent neighbor to the people around us, I can change the world. Maybe that’s a little naive to think.

I think we’re in this strange time of going out of our way to be complete and utter assholes to each other, for no real reason, and believing that if you don’t see eye to eye with someone 100% then you can’t have a conversation with them.

Everyone wakes up every day just trying to figure it out, and everyone is fucked up, but we’re all fucked up in our own little ways. I think if we could find a way to just be kinder to each other, and I’m not talking about the people you know, I’m talking about the people you don’t, then maybe the world would be a little more of a pleasant place. No one needs help having a harder time in life and that’s really all we’re offering each other.

Last night I had something happen that led to me realizing, that it’s pretty easy to really change someone’s day. As the bar staff was cleaning the bar at the end of the night, I stepped outside because for once it wasn’t unbearably hot, and I was a little frustrated and I don’t like to allow the staff to see me that way. When I stepped outside I looked over and noticed a woman with all her luggage, her kids luggage, all on the stairs of the building next to us. Mind you it’s midnight, and the people that live in the building next to us, have been pretty rude to me both in person and via email, so I wasn’t thrilled when I couldn’t help but say “are you okay?”. I assumed she’d give some really shitty response or be rude, but as it turns out, she didn’t live in the building she was visiting her god mother who lives in the building. She said she was okay but that her flight got delayed because of the IT outage that happened yesterday, so it was just a long day and she couldn’t get her key to work. She then went on to ask if I knew of any places in the area still serving food because her kids hadn’t eaten in hours. Beacon hill is a very early and quiet neighborhood, so I didn’t know of anywhere, because everything closes before us. She then answered a call from her daughter that they found a cvs that was open and would find something to eat there, but you can’t have cvs dinner, and mom was clearly stressed. I did what I thought was just a normal response, I pulled out my phone, went to door dash, and ordered pizzas and fries to be delivered to their apartment. I looked at her and said I can’t help with the key situation because some of the people in this building really hate the restaurant so I’m not even supposed to be out here, but I found a pizza place that’s open and the pizzas will be here in about 25 minutes. She asked if I could give her money and I said absolutely not, I’m in the business of hospitality and generosity. I went back inside and a few minutes later went back to check on her and all the luggage and the woman were gone, but the apartment light was on, she must have gotten the key to work. I like to think she just had too much going on at once and the relief of knowing her kids had something to eat made it easier to focus on the old door of the building.

As I locked the door and was leaving for the night she was coming down to get the pizza, she thanked me over and over and I gave her my card and said during your stay here if you ever need anything the restaurant is always here to help where we can, put in my ear pods and walked to my car.

On my walk I couldn’t help but grin a little. Every day I show people that same hospitality, but in a setting in which it’ expected, when you do it outside of that setting, it feels much more satisfying.

I actually texted the owner of 1928 and her husband, I said “when tom Brady was drafted to the patriots, the first time he ever met robert kraft he looked him in the eyes and said “I’m the best decision this organization has ever made.” and then I said, I’m the best decision 1928 has ever made.”

Part of me was joking, the other part was the ego that I try to keep quiet shining through.

Do I believe I’m the best decision 1928 has ever made? Yes.

Will I ever say that again? Unlikely.

At the end of the day everyone in a business is replaceable, so I can’t walk around like all my good qualities are enough to keep me employed, it’s going to take continued dedication, and smart decision making to keep me employed, but at the end of the day, in this economy, you’re not going to find someone more willing to do everything they can for everyone they come across.

Welcome to the hospitality economy.

Where the skies are gold not gray,

J.