Survival Cash Success
I was pulling stray carts from the parking lot at my job at the ‘big box’ store when two gentlemen walked by and said, “Don’t they have a machine to do that?!?!?”
I smiled and said, “The machine isn’t reliable. I am, so they send me out here.”
One of the men looked down at my dirty hands and scuffed tennis shoes and said, “That’s when I’d tell the boss to take his job and shove it. I’d never push shopping carts for a living.”
The other man laughed and said, “Oh geez, no!”
They pushed their cart toward me and left. I stacked ten carts in a line and began to push them to the cart corral. As the tears started to trickle down my face, I couldn’t help but think that those words were probably something I would have said before I lost my job. I have a university degree with high honors and over a decade of management experience. I would have never seen myself here either.
I stopped, leaned my head on the cart handle (I know – germs – but I was distraught), and thought, ‘I have two options. I can either quit and go home OR I can bust my butt and get a paycheck – tiny or otherwise.’
I wish I could say it was an easy decision - but I had my head on that darn handle for at least 5 minutes.
I finally wiped my face and got back to work.
If this is what it takes to pay my bills for now, THIS is what it takes.
Our successes and failures are based on our attitudes. We can give up and fail… or we can decide that enough is enough and bear down for a fight.
I’m ready to fight.
Are you with me?
Posted: December 5th, 2008 under Debt Reduction.
Comments: 16
Comments
Comment from Rob
Time: December 5, 2008, 6:24 am
I do understand where those people were coming from. But its important that you also understand they had no idea of your circumstances. You deserve respect and admiration for continuing to work even if its something your not entirely happy with doing. Theres alot of people, in today’s economy especially, who lose their job, give up hope and sit back and collect and they end up even worse off when the unemployment runs out. So kudos to you, things will work out in time.
Comment from KellyB
Time: December 5, 2008, 7:26 am
Good for you! And shame on those men for saying what they did. You made the right decision to do your job and then to take PRIDE in a job well done, no matter the task. This is called CHARACTER. Be proud that YOU have it, and THEY did not. God Bless…
Comment from Joan.of.the.Arch
Time: December 5, 2008, 8:12 am
Well, I do not understand where those people were coming from. What kind of pigs were they? I don’t care whether they know you or not, that was a rude, contemptuous thing to say and they have revealed their own haughtiness. Did they think they were funny? Did they think they were some how comisserating?
Comment from Jessie
Time: December 5, 2008, 8:13 am
You do what you have to do to get by. It is good honest work and you shouldn’t feel a bit bad about it. People can always find something to drag others down about. It can be frustrating pushing carts when you have all the past experience you have but you have your dignity of working for your paycheck and not waiting for a handout. You should be proud of yourself, hold your head high.
Comment from millie
Time: December 5, 2008, 11:07 am
It is great to see someone work at whateverin order in order to make ends meet. I am very proud os you. Keep up the good work and be proud you have a job.
Comment from FrugalTexan75
Time: December 5, 2008, 10:02 pm
What obnoxious, arrogant, rude and ignorant jerks! I’m so sorry you had to put up with people like that. Good for you for taking the higher road. You know who you are, don’t let creeps like that get the best of you.
Comment from Nicole
Time: December 6, 2008, 9:03 am
Tell me where to find them and I’ll smack them for you:) Way to stick with it!
Comment from steve
Time: December 6, 2008, 1:51 pm
I just told those guys to screw off for you!
If what they meant is that they wouldn’t take a job pushing shopping carts even if they had no other options, then they are truly idiots and of no account, besides being insufferably rude.
The very fact that they said what they said to you shows what losers they are and how insensitive to the plight of others or their feelings.
You have my support in continuing to work with honor and with pride.
Comment from steve
Time: December 6, 2008, 2:10 pm
Sorry about the language if I offended! Please feel free to moderate the heck out of it if you want.
Comment from Jay
Time: December 6, 2008, 5:33 pm
There are a lot of jobs I wouldn’t want to do, but I’d never tell the people doing them. That’s just rude. I don’t want to fry hamburgers, but I’m thankful there are people in Burger King doing it for me. For every job, there’s people who wouldn’t do it and more people that would love to be able to get it.
Comment from steve
Time: December 7, 2008, 12:00 am
@ beks:
I like your moderating!!!
-steve
Comment from John Wesley Smith
Time: December 8, 2008, 7:35 am
Way to go! Thanks for setting a good example for all too many others who are already in such a tough spot.
John
Comment from Lizzie
Time: December 10, 2008, 3:30 pm
Wow! Truly unbelievable, what some people won’t hesitate to say in front of others just blows me away. I have a new found respect for all “big box” employees!
Comment from jaz
Time: December 19, 2008, 10:13 am
this is great! i’m helping your parents get FPU going in their church in january. i’ve read a few of your posts and this is the best by far!
thank you for showing others what it means to have your priorities straight and even show us a little bit of that “old” american way:)
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