Struck by the Green-eyed Monster

Dear Journal,

Like many people, I have always felt proud of the fact that I am not a jealous person. By this, I mean in relationships, professionally, in sports or achievement. I have always believed what my pastor says “there’s no need to be jealous of your neighbour because God is blessing him/her, be happy for them simply because God is in your neighbourhood and he will get to you”.

Well, all that righteous thought flew out of my head when I was struck by the green-eyed monster on Saturday. I can still hear myself rambling and trying to justify the reason why I was jealous! My family and pastor would definitely have been disappointed if they had seen me at the time.

Maybe you are wondering why I am making a big deal of this, I should explain to you what led to this insane bout of jealousy. (oh, it was really insane. I had never seen myself like that in all of my soon-to-be 24 years on earth)

It all began when I started my part time job with a staffing agency. Week after week, we (my colleagues and I) booked different locations and events we want to work at. Given the wealthy reputation of football clubs, I made sure to always sign up for shifts there. Things were going delightfully well as these stadia lived up to their reputation in that the clients in the boxes were very generous if great customer service is delivered.

I met every shift with a positive attitude and confidence. I was sure that every week, I will get tipped generously and it was so. That is, until my boss thought it was a good idea that I sign up to the rugby stadium (Twickenham) as well. He believed that if he gave me the ‘platinum’ corporate boxes, I will gather huge tips! I was so excited that I willingly accepted.

To keep this story short, this is my second season at Twickenham working really hard and delivering excellent customer service and only once have I been tipped generously. Never was I tipped by the ‘platinum’ corporate boxes, but I was always rated excellent for providing amazing customer service. This begs the question, if you feel that way, why won’t you tip? I am almost sure you all are asking the same question. The box that tipped generously by the way in comparison to this ‘big’ corporation is very small.

Well, I was just coming to grips with the fact that my boss will never reassign me to another box other my current one, when I heard the most amazing news. (Amazing that is for the beneficiary)

While I was busy collecting an excellent rating in service (eyes rolling), a colleague (we worked in the same building) was getting tipped £400!!!

Okay, for my friends and lovely readers, I will convert that to today’s exchange rate in a few currencies. £400 in Naira is (N118, 252), In US dollars ($593), In Euros (560), and in South African Rand (R7,357). I can literally hear your gasp for breath and trust me, I know the feeling.

It was on receiving this news that I unwittingly squeezed my job card (without it I can’t get paid) alongside other pieces of paper and threw it in a nearby bin. Well, I found out my mistake at check-out and had to go back in the bin for it. Thank God it was a recycle bin for bottles, I didn’t have to look for long. (My friends from Nigeria, yes they recycle bottles here as well but in a different way)

Still blinded by the monster, I signed out and kept moaning about how awful it was that my hard work yielded no tips. I couldn’t believe that someone else got nearly 8 times the amount of tips I have been receiving and believing was generous. I was still stewing at the fact that this act far exceeded generosity! As if to rub it in, the security lady at the gate with a huge smile asked if I heard about the guy with the £400 tip (he had become a legend instantly. Talk about how fast news travel). She went ahead to inform us that the ‘tipper’ left in a helicopter after tipping.

I could feel the burn at the back of my eyes. I will not cry, I said to myself. But I was no longer my happy, vivacious self. In fact, some of my friends were so jealous that they hoped the guy who was tipped would get robbed on the train home (hahahahah! I’m sure it was just the monster speaking through them. They really are nice people).

Just when I thought I could write the day off as my worst day ever, I had the best train ride ever. Remember in my previous post when I said most Londoners do not talk on the tube? Well, they actually talk a lot and even sing when they have had one too many drinks. It was a very jolly good ride home as my side of the train was engulfed in happy jokes and our own hilarious version of ‘The Voice’.

Although the monster struck me at my most vulnerable, I am proud to say I did not stay on the floor bleeding. I decided that I will use his experience as a motivational tool for me like Templar says in Rule 14 (of his book, The Rules of Life). It just means everything is possible. This experience serves as a reminder to me that I am still human. I was ashamed of myself the next morning of course (horrified is actually the word). But like Templar said, it is alright to feel regret but dump it quickly and move forward.

As always, I would love to hear your views and comments. Have you ever felt jealous? If yes, tell me what you did about it :)

Love

Sharon