At age 53 I became a waitress…once again. It had been thirty years since I laced up those sexy (anti-slip) black shoes, tied a polyester apron around my waist, and hoisted a tray of pancakes over my shoulder.

Why now?

I’m fortunate to have a portable career as a high school teacher, but we moved here during the height of the pandemic, and schools in this area were only offering virtual classes. For me, teaching is a contact sport, so I decided to wait it out. My daughter came home from her job at a local diner and asked if I could help out because the diner was struggling to find staff. 

So, I traded in my grade book for an order book, and like so many of my fellow military spouses, a new career began…or rather an old one was resurrected. 

I only planned to stay for a few weeks to help out until the applicants came, but they never did, and a few weeks stretched into almost eighteen months. No need to dive into the “Where are all the workers?” debate. People want to work from home, and I get that, but I wish more people saw the value in part-time work at places needing help in local communities. 

Jobs in the food industry may not be glamorous, but they can teach such valuable life lessons that are both “ageless” and timeless.

These are a few I was reminded of:

1. Manual labor is hard on the body, but good for the soul.

There is something so satisfying about knowing your muscles and feet ache at the end of the day, because you really hustled. I must also point out that it’s easier to recover from such a day when you’re in your twenties.

2. You can’t please everyone. 

We all need to learn this at this at a younger age. There will always be the customer (insert client, coworker, friend, or family member) who is unhappy with something. Some will act annoyed, some will act indifferent, and others will flat out overreact. 

How a person views a “bump in the road” speaks volumes about them….not you! We can’t control how others respond to mistakes; whether it be a spilled drink or being served the wrong kind of toast. Their reaction is their choice, just as your reaction is your choice. Be kind and patient for as long as you can.

3. Everyone appreciates a hustle.

As a former coach, it was nice to see this truth outside the gym. Trying hard and going the extra mile pays off for both customers and coworkers. No one wants to wait for you to get off your phone to take an order or pick up food. Keep moving and looking for things to do!

4. There is no “I” in team. 

A cliche, I know, but when you work in a restaurant setting, it’s all about teamwork. From running coffee to running credit cards, you have to see past your own tables. It also helps to get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. One of our waitresses is hard of hearing, so when the kitchen bell goes off, we often head back and take her food out for her. But she knows all the customers, and her strength is greeting them and making them feel welcome. 

I’m also working with people who would have been sitting in my classroom two years ago. That was an adjustment (and a bit of an ego check), but I get some mentoring time with them as we roll silverware. I also don’t have to filter my words and advice to them, and that’s been refreshing!

5. No job is beneath you.

What makes a job demeaning is our attitudes toward it. If Jesus can wash feet, we can wash dishes! 

Sometimes it really is the journey and not the destination that really matters. Sure, we all want to be working at the top of our career goals, but why does it have to be all or nothing? Sometimes, the “jobs” or the “volunteering” can be just as important as the “career.” 

If you find yourself in the “career-stalled” period of your life, hustle your way into something different while you patiently wait for your moment…

…and have a side of pancakes.

They really are as good as you remember!

By Kathleen Palmer