Did you ever have
that kind of sensation that something was happening as the time being and you
had no clue what it was until later as you had time to be with yourself and
finally came to understand what’s what? This week, thanks to two patrons, I had
such rare experiences on the same day. Twice, amazing, isn't it?
I was scheduled
at the circulation desk to back up the service for we were one representative
short this week. A gentleman, one of our regulars, waved indicating he needed
assistance. Right away, I knew he was in need of someone to help him get online
to check his email. As the screen changed pages, I was ready to turn back to my
desk. “Darling, don’t go” I looked down at him. But he already bent his back
and tried to type something onto his desktop. He mumbled something that held me
back and stood there listening and hearing what he said and requested. Focused
on helping him, I totally forgot my duty at the desk. It’s this gentleman who
gave me a precious lesson on listening-a communication skill that I am really
short of. What he mumbled that evening brought empathy out of me and led me to
really listen to and hear him. The sensation was strange yet so real that I had
to ponder later that night upon what’s happened to me and the change I was
feeling inside of me.
One minute to the
closing hour, I spotted this lady at the audio books area grabbing something
off the shelves. I followed her to the self checkout machine to help her. As
she was busy at the machine, I asked “Is this how you read books?” She replied
as she was checking out the CDs. She works in Fort Worth . “And you live in here?” “Yes. I
listen to the CDs on my way to work and back home.” “It’s a long trip.” “Yes,
it is. And I checked out a real book after listening to its CDs. It’s really a
good book that I enjoyed.” After the checkout process, we said our goodbyes. On
my way home, I couldn’t help but think of this lady’s daily long trip. And I
blamed myself for I should have given her our phone number and my name for her to call ahead to request CDs before she comes here next time. It would save her
time and provide her a good opportunity to really find and check out items that
really please her and meet her needs. Maybe next time, I made a mental note. This
lady, like the gentleman, taught me a lesson of empathy.
If we consider
the life is a process of learning, growing, and self-discovering, working in
the public library is like going to school to learn, to become a better person.
Patrons come from different backgrounds and each of them has his/her own story.
If I pay more attention, there are plenty of good teachers to give me lessons
if I am able to listen to and hear them out. Of course, nothing would be
perfect and things might not go as well as one expects or hopes for. But I told
myself, don’t waste any opportunity or encounter.
Who knows what’s next and
that’s the beauty of life-unknown!!!
"I asked the boy beneath the pines
He said, 'The Master's gone alone
Herb-gathering somewhere on the mount
Cloud-hidden
Whereabouts unknown"
-Chia Tao (771-841)
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