THE INVISIBLE PEOPLE

THE INVISIBLE PEOPLE

We see them every day but we never see them.  How can that be?  It sounds like an impossible statement but it happens routinely.

We go to a mall that is all nice and clean, the floors are shiny, there is no trash lying around and the crowds rush to and fro.  We walk into a fast food restaurant and order our hamburger, chicken, smoothie or whatever.  The place is clean, there is no trash around and the tables are wiped down.  Our favorite upscale eatery reflects the same care—everything is in it proper place, no dirty dishes setting around, no crumbs on the floor, glasses, silverware and napkins are all in place. 

None of this happens by accident.  These things happen because of the invisible people.  They are the people who clean the floors, empty the trash, clean the tables, wash the dishes and silverware, set the tables—they clean up the messes we make. 

You know all of the mass mailing stuff you get?  All those catalogs, flyers, letters offering all kinds of credit cards and loans.  In many instances these are assembled and packaged by other invisible people. 

Some speak little or no English, some have developmental disabilities, and for the most part all are paid a minimum wage and probably have few, if any, benefits.  We take them for granted every day because, I suppose, to us they truly are invisible. 

A few weeks back I was in a local mall and watched as an older man walked around the mall with a broom and a dustpan, sweeping up the detritus of the day.  As he walked past me, I said to him, “You are really do a great job keeping this mall clean.”  My statement stopped him in his tracks and a huge smile spread itself across his wrinkled face.  “Thank you”, he said and I went on to ask him how long he had been working at the mall and what other kinds of work had he done.  Come to find out, he had retired after working for many years in industry but his retirement and Social Security just weren’t enough to live on, so he had taken a job as one of the cleaners of the mall.  We talked for several minutes and I know I was keeping him from his appointed rounds but he didn’t seem to mind.  After a few minutes, I thanked him again and he went on his way but there seemed to be a little spring in his step that I hadn’t noticed before.

On another day, my wife and I were in a local bakery/restaurant having lunch.  This particular place asks you to please empty your own trash and put your trays, dishes and silverware in places designated for dirty dishes.  As I was doing this, a young man was emptying the trash and putting in new trash bags.  I simply said to him, “Thanks for what you are doing.  It makes this place a pleasure to come to.”  Again, that same type of appreciative smile spread across his face and again, there was the sincere, “Thank you.”  I told him that if he wasn’t doing his job we would all be knee deep in trash, to which he readily agreed.  I don’t know when the last time was that someone told him important his job was but on this occasion, I was glad I had been the one to do so. 

A few years ago I was privileged to work at a university that was engaged in training physicians, nurses and scientists as well as conducting medical research.  The place was filled with physicians and doctoral level scientists who, on numerous occasions can be very trying if things are not going exactly as they believe they should be.  The university has a large supply department that processes many deliveries of goods and equipment that come across their loading dock on a daily basis.  In addition to routine office supplies, many of the items processed are for various researchers.  On numerous occasions, I heard people complain about how things seemed to take forever to get to them because those “stupid” people on the loading dock were just too lazy to do their job properly.  Those “stupid” people on the loading dock are also some of the invisible people.  They come to work every day, do their job and go home.  Rarely do people notice them or thank them for what they do.  When I would hear these researchers complain about the “loading dock people”, it was easy to remind them that if it was not for those folks, they would not be able to do their job.  They could be as brilliant as anyone but if those people down on the loading dock did not handle their equipment properly, process it and deliver it, then all the brains in the world wouldn’t make any difference.

You also see the invisible people in upscale restaurants—they are the folks who set the tables, fill your water glass, bring you bread, and may even bring your appetizer and main course.  And they are the same folks who clear your table at the end of your meal.  In our area many are immigrants whose native language is not English.  They may know just enough to get by in their job.  They are often part time, low paid without any benefits.  They be given part of your tip at the end of the day but it won’t be much, perhaps 2% or so.  Consider giving them their own tip sometime. 

There are many other invisible people doing the things that make our life more comfortable.  All I ask is that you take time to look for and appreciate them.