Push Thru It! High Maintenance

Taking a day off from work to fade into the background, I donned a baseball cap, beat up jeans and smudged glasses to finish my Christmas shopping. At a nearby garden store, two customer service clerks buried in counting inventory failed to peek as I perused the holiday items now 50% off.  I sheepishly approached them, apologizing for being "high maintenance" in my quest to price the brightly lit cardinal centerpiece that was one more distraction from my defined list. 

"You hardly look like you could be high maintenance," said the clerk, in a backhanded (and not compliment) manner to which I quipped, "In other words, it's obvious I haven't taken a shower today."  I self-consciously grabbed my cardinal and rushed to the check-out counter, hoping I didn't have body odor as I made small talk with the attractive, put together lady behind me.

While high maintenance has a visible and entitled presence, low maintenance can seem invisible (except those crumbs on my shirt), undeserving and apathetic, reflecting little need for care and attention (and being waited on!).   While fading was my hope for the day, it also came with a reminder to take pride in my presence and a shower.     

• How do you want people to respond to you? 
• How does your demeanor affect how they may respond?  A little entitlement for the right reasons is not a bad thing. 

P.S. Dedicated to customer service representatives who still make you feel welcome and my friend, Josh, who said I looked "super hot" at his party last week.  While looks aren't everything, I surely want to dispel the glamorous image readers and anyone who saw me today may have of me right now!