Truer words have never been spoken. I’ve worked every job from employee at a pet store, maintenance at a church, Starbucks barista, freelance artist and photographer, and now digital media manager at a large church. Starbucks taught me so much about customers service (and food safety), and that literally applies to every position I’ve taken since. Smile, assume best intent, never get overheated and keep the situation calm and centered around the person you are dealing with. It’s also WAY easier to deal with someone who knows you are listening than a hostile one, it’s an artform. And just like you said, I have a more positive outlook in my day to day dealing with coworkers and clients, because I’m at service for others. Selfishly it’s just easier to go through life like that, but it definitely is beneficial to those around you. This crazy b* at work last week tore me a new one because she left a copy of something in my mailbox like 2 months which I never got and was pissed I didn’t respond. Kept my cool, but she was unhinged. We had a yearly live auction event a few days later that raises money for our school, and I sat next to her and talked to her. And she was totally chill. This is a lady I almost lost my cool with, and never wanted to see again after her behavior at work which was unwarranted. I don’t know her day or her life, but I’ll give anyone the benefit of the doubt.