Since it’s Monday, that means it’s time for another entry of gratitude in my blog, which for today is for all the baristas at the Starbucks locations I regularly go to in the Toledo vicinity, who have often made me feel not so invisible in this world.
While I know it’s part of the normal training of employees at Starbucks to greet customers when they walk in, I’ve been extremely thankful for the baristas who have gone beyond that by taking the time to learn my name, ask me about my life, and even remember some of the drinks I frequently order.
Why does any of that matter to me? Honestly, it’s because I often really do feel invisible in this world and have struggled feeling like I don’t matter. Having the long-standing health issues I do, my thinking hasn’t always been the most positive, especially as of late, so it’s most definitely been a blessing when I’ve walked into a Starbucks location on one of my down days when suddenly a barista greets me by my name with a huge smile, asks me how I’m doing, and whether I’m going to have one of my usual beverages or even food items.
I often say it’s the little things in life that make the most difference and sometimes it’s little things like this that do. Things like people remembering my name and my high maintenance coffee drinks, that truly end up touching my heart, usually when I most need it.
Here in the Toledo area, I’ve frequented the Starbucks Westgate location the most, especially during this pandemic. I’ve lost count of the number of days where I’ve felt more down than up through it all and actually looked forward to my daily visit to this location because typically there at least one barista has made it a point to help me feel more than welcomed. Most recently, I’ve been going quite a bit to the newest Starbucks location in my area which is out in Perrysburg at the intersection of Route 25 and Eckel Junction Road. There too I can absolutely attest to always feeling better as soon as I walk in their doors.
I know it may seem silly to some, for being grateful for Starbucks employees, when there is probably plenty of other things in this world to offer gratitude for at this time, but, to me it absolutely has made a difference in my life, especially over the past two years or so.
So, to all the baristas I’ve met at the Westgate and Eckel Junction locations, and the others I’ve met in a number of the other Starbucks stores as well, I just want to say thank you, as you really have made a difference in my life on so many-a-days, just to keep going, to keep believing that I do matter in this world, that I’m not invisible, and that the world isn’t always such a lonely place.
Thank you Alex, Audrey, Selena, Joe, Casey, Lizzy, Liz, Alyssa, Mickey, Katherine, Adrienne, Jake, Angie, Staci, Corey, Ciera, Jazz, Will, Haley, Laura, Molly, and all the others whose names are failing me at this moment, who have taken the time to get to know me, when you didn’t have to, you truly have been shining stars in a world that often feels far too dim to me on most days. I’m grateful to each of you and dedicating today’s Grateful Heart Monday to all of you.
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
