It is always such a busy time during the holiday season, particularly for select groups of people. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of our lives, we tend to lose focus on others and think only of ourselves. Remember that the holidays are about others and about appreciating every blessing in your life. I urge everyone during this season to take notice and give thanks and appreciation to the working people who might need it the most.

1. Retail Workers

These poor people have to deal with masses of shoppers trying to fight their way to the front of the line, purchasing items that may or may not win favor over particular people. Most retail workers don't particularly look forward to working during one of the busiest retail times of the year. Many stores decide to stay open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well, to accommodate the ones who forgot gifts for that one aunt who RSVP’d late to their holiday party.

2. Public Transit Conductors

These hard workers have to deal with hundreds, sometimes thousands of people daily. With everyone coming home for the holidays, these public transit workers are pushed even harder to make sure that everyone can get to their loved ones on time. These troopers work tirelessly, and even on holidays, they ensure that everyone can get home safely.

3. Flight Attendants

With high flying volume during these weeks, flight attendants have the pleasure of working with so many different people each and every day. They have to deal with crying babies, loud snorers, people with flying anxiety, and just straight up mean people on their flights. They have families to be home with, as well, and they are there making sure that you have a safe and comfortable flight.

4. Mail and Delivery Services Workers

These folks must have it the roughest during the holiday season, as people rush to have their gifts shipped domestically and internationally, hopefully making it to their receivers on time for the holidays. With online shopping on the rise, delivery has become a much more streamlined and efficient process, but even with the fixes, there are still times that it does not work out. It becomes stressful when the package physically cannot be delivered in time, and the sender gets angry-- or worse yet, a package gets delivered to the wrong place. Make sure to send your packages on time!

5. Food and Restaurant Workers

These employees get the short end of the stick, honestly. Some families, such as my own, have traditional lunches or dinners where our extended family all goes to a restaurant and then goes to see a movie on Christmas Day. I always feel bad for the restaurant waiters because they have to work so hard to keep up with so many people too lazy to cook on Christmas. They have to clean up after us, serve us tons of food, cater to our needs, and everything in between. It is just a hard job, and they honestly get under-tipped a lot. Working in the food industry is challenging, and with so many people rolling through during the holidays, it becomes even harder staying on your feet and smiling at people who get upset with you for a problem that you did not cause. Bless all you food industry workers-- you guys are the best.

6. Janitors

Okay, these guys are not even on the stick during this season. People become so careless so easily, and they forget that other people pick up after them. Yes, it is their job, but it is so easy for someone to decide that they can help out. Being a janitor, or sanitation engineer, is an arduous job, doing the same things over and over while being completely overlooked by so many people. Sure, anyone could do their job, but since anyone can do their job, help out a little and go that extra five feet to put your garbage in the trash can. It really is that easy.

With so many hard jobs, a thank you and a smile with eye contact can go such a long way for these people. It is so easy to have a rough day at work, and these jobs are all about customer service. Coming from someone who has worked jobs that have customer service as a large portion of their descriptions, it is doggone hard to keep smiling. If someone’s service may not seem up to par to you, perhaps that service person was just having a really rough day, not only at work, but at home or at school. Have some empathy and try and show your appreciation for the work they have to do for you.

Happy holidays to everyone!