NO HOLIDAY FOR SOME WORKERS

There are some people who won’t be on holiday today because we’ll need them. The bike-men, the public transport drivers, market traders, hawkers, nurses and doctors and the likes. I don’t know what you call them, I believe they are also workers.
Still in the spirit of Workers’ Day, I implore us to do something unusually nice to them today.
You could be creative in your own way, give tips or tokens and say something encouraging. Anything to spark a smile, I’d say.
Years back, I made it an habit to be as polite and nice I can be to the sets of workers that are especially earning low.
Before I board a bike, I say a simple greeting - if I forget, I do so while we’re on the way and strike any conversation.
I remember the day, when my lil gestures made real sense. I was returning from work myself and I boarded a bike to take me home, we were started on the journey before I realized I hadn’t done my usual thing so I apologized and greeted him properly. I was surprised at what he replied me with, he said ‘you dey greet okada man?’ I was like, Ehn now, he is older than me and courtesy demands it. Then he asked ‘which tribe you be?’, then which religion. I didn’t want to answer cause i felt my greeting him really wasn’t a tribe or religion thing but I told him I was Christian and Yoruba. He told me how he doesn’t really get such courtesy from his customers, either young or old, cause many of them don’t seem to recognize that they are also humans but just ‘okada man’ probably because he didn’t go to school, drives bike and is poor.
I could tell that he was surprised and pleased with me. I didn’t think it could come to that but I was happy that I created a better impression. You need to see the way he was praising me, my upbringing, and faith.
I can’t exactly remember whether I paid when I dropped but I tell you I’ve had occasions where I didn’t need to or got a discounted price just cause of the little things like saying ‘good evening sir’, ‘how is work?’ ‘God will help us all, it will be well.’ when they share their challenges.

That day onward, I knew I was doing something great even though it was really small, he encouraged me; I was encouraged and I have even extended this to other services that I am paying for, I don’t forget to say ‘Thank You’
Sometimes, I get a ‘no, I should be thanking you.’ ‘God bless you my sister’, ‘you are welcome’, ‘thank you too’, or ‘na my work’, some don’t seem to mind me. But it’s all good, I believe it’s a good vibe.

And today I advise you to do same and more if you can.

Although I dey ‘Broke-lyn’ right now. But I’ll be sure to do the other little things I can afford.
Share love. Appreciate!

HAPPY WORKERS’ DAY!