Used to wait tables. One woman came in already angry — snapping her fingers at me, sending her food back twice for no reason, and glaring at me the entire time. By the end of her meal, she tipped nothing and left a note on the receipt that read: “Try smiling more.” I was exhausted but kept my cool. I forced the biggest smile I could, walked to the back of the restaurant, and took a deep breath.

Then, instead of letting her negativity get to me, I decided to respond in a calm but honest way. I flipped the receipt over and wrote: “Try tipping more.” When I walked back to the table, I placed it gently in front of her and wished her a good evening, still wearing that same forced smile. A few minutes later, she came up to the counter.

I braced myself for another round of complaints, but instead, her expression had completely changed. “You know,” she said quietly, “you’re right. I’ve had a really rough day, and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.” She pulled out her wallet, handed me a generous tip, and added, “Thanks for being patient with me.”

That moment stuck with me. It reminded me that sometimes, people act out because of struggles we can’t see. A little kindness — mixed with honesty — can turn a bad situation into a chance for understanding. And just like that, one unpleasant night became a lesson in empathy for us both.