What I've learned while working in a bookstore.

Since all i do anymore is work at a LDS bookstore my life has become über lame. Bookstores are not nearly as exciting as working in special Ed.

1. If you want to know what people are struggling with, check out the top 10 book section. Lately in our top 10, there hasn't been one fiction book. They're all "help me feel happy" style books. These are some of the titles...
1. Through his eyes: Rethinking What you believe about yourself.
2. Created For Greater Things
3. 5 spiritual solutions for everyday parenting Challenges
4. I hope you know how much I love you: And other advice for a happier life.
5. Divine Signatures: The confirming hand of God

It makes me sad that people constantly have to rely on the strength of others in order to find happiness. I know we all need help at times...but we're all stronger than we give ourselves credit for. We all have an inner happiness that if we just opened our eyes and got out and served we'd be able to find it. It's all about our perspective. But what I'm wondering, is whatever happened to reading for fun and enjoyment?

2. Sometimes people are not patient while you're ringing up another customer. Heaven forbid they wait an extra 15 seconds! Instead of kindly waiting, they walk up next to you and demand you look up a book for them.

3. I always thought our baptism section was in plain sight...but since that's our number one most asked question I guess it's not.

4. That whole 25% off employee discount is torture unto me. We have too many cool things and awesome books in there...we have a big art sale going on right now. I bought a painting of Christ, like a big nice one. Because of my dang discount. I told Andrew what I did and his response was "You bought a WHAT?!?!" I guess he actually read that part of my email even though I snuck it in....hahha just knowing how he'd say that still makes me laugh!

5. I have been deemed the organizing master. If something needs to be reorganized, I'm put in charge of it. A week or two ago we were super super slow...and we had run out of major things to do. So one of my coworkers challenged me to go reorganize the picture section. That's the section evvverryyyoooone avoids when it comes to making it look nice and organized because no matter what ya do, people will never put the pictures back in the carton thing they got them out of. They instead will put them in the most random spot, and you will be left calling them super bad names in your head.

6. We in fact do not have a bathroom in our store, and no, I won't let you use the employee bathroom in the back. And no, the one in the electrical room does not work. And you weren't even supposed to open that door!

7. To the tweenage girls who thought it was super hysterical to take books and place them on the opposite side of the store. on purpose. Karma my friends....just wait until you're working retail :) you won't think it's too funny anymore.

8. People will run you over as you are shutting and locking the doors 5 minutes after the mall has closed. And then they will get all huffy and puffy when you don't have any fresh lion house rolls left. Let's not count how many times this has happened to me. It's always on Saturday nights, and on Friday nights when it's baptism Saturday.

9. Thou shalt not kill thine supervisor. No matter how slow she can be closing a drawer meaning you get home ridiculously late and no matter how many of your sales she has stolen just so she can win the contest. And no matter how many times she has left the floor to go check her "email" leaving absolutely no one on the floor. and no matter how many imprint errors she has made. (she has the record for most imprint errors...) love one another love one another love one another love one another love one another love one another love one another love one another.

10. Be prepared for people to tell you their life story. Sometimes they really need a listening ear, be ready to just listen and be a friend. After all, we sell hope in our store.

11. To the 19-20-something year old girl standing in the missionary section holding the Elder countdown, and trying not to cry. You don't need to hesitate saying its for your boyfriend and you need ideas of what to send in your first package to him. I'm so sorry others have been cruel to you and now you're terrified to even admit it unless I tell you I'm waiting for one too. My advice to you is to let those cruel words go in one ear and out the other. Your decision to wait is between you, Heavenly Father and your missionary.

These are all the things that I have learned and experienced so far...its not always fun working retail, but there are moments when you realize you just helped someone in ways you'll never fully know or understand, and its moments like that, that make it worth it.