maybe we all just had the worst day

This morning I was standing in line to buy coffee, which I hate but I needed something bitter and caffeinated to pour bitterly into my bitter and exhausted self, wearing what I think is my "don't talk to me or I will CUT you" face, but is in actuality a "holy cow that hag has bags" face, when I overheard the cashier saying she didn't feel good.

But there she is, every morning, smiling at everyone, her greeting filled with warmth, asking genuinely how each of us is doing.

And I thought of lyrics in the Ani DiFranco song Be Nice:

maybe you don't like your job
maybe you didn't get enough sleep
well, nobody likes their job
nobody got enough sleep
maybe you just had
the worst day of your life
but, you know, there's no escape
and there's no excuse
so just suck up and be nice

And I thought, if she can smile, so can I.