Life is a "HAIR-way"

                      Life is a "HAIR-way"                              -Importance of saying "THANK YOU" !

Hello everyone. 2017, just like every year, is moving ahead quite fast and catching up with the time is becoming a challenge each day. However, today being the last day of the shortest month of the year, I have decided to share something very unique but a very important topic from a humanitarian point of view.

My topic- LIFE IS A HAIRWAY!! Confused? Wondering whats this all about? Many may start wondering- ये आखिर में कहना क्या चाहता हैं? Well, I am here today going to share my experience, or say, share my feelings about people who work in Salon/Parlour/Spa. 

SALON/PARLOURS/SPA- The Place where everyone visit atleast twice a month or sometimes thrice or may be even twice a week. Many visit to get a haircut done or to get a clean shave or to relax by getting a head massage or a foot massage done. There are various other kinds of services provided by the salon in the form of facials, hair coloring etc. We easily spend hundreds and thousands of rupees on these services. But have we anytime thought about the people working in these places? What do they achieve by beautifying someone else? 

रोज़ की रोटी के लिए काम करना पड़ता हैं और उसके लिए कौनसा भी काम चलेगा ! Quoting the famous dialogue from the movie RAEES- कोई भी धंधा छोटा नहीं होता और धंधे से बड़ा कोई धर्म नहीं होता ! This is very apt for those who work in Salons.

I recently got a haircut done from an old man working in one of the salon's nearby. I was moved by his determination to work even after being in his high 50's or early 60's. I was thinking twice whether to give the man some extra money(as a tip thats offered voluntarily after the service) to him. However when I gave him a Rs100 note, he had tears in his eyes. Folding his hands and saying Thanks. I was taken aback and asked him not to do so as he was so elder to me. But his reply was- "This is my work and if someone likes it and appreciates it I feel honoured". 

When we go for a pedicure or a manicure, it sometimes so awkward to sit on a chair and the person in the salon sits on the floor to cut your nails. We do it for our comfort but they do it as their work. They perform their work so well that sometimes you get used to their way of getting things done and so you make sure we visit the same parlor again. But their happiness is seen when you appreciate their work and at the end just say "THANKS" ! You can see a different glow on their face and you develop a personal bonding with that person. The next time you go to the same place, the same person will take care of you and shall make sure he is the only one, and not his colleagues, who gets a chance to serve you again.

Ironically, Parlors are the only place where one women feels happy in making another women beautiful. नहीं तो एक दुसरे से जलते रहते हैं ! (Disclaimer-"Hope no women gets offended and takes the joke as a joke and not label me as Anti-Women"). Jokes apart, Salons and Parlors are actually forms of stress busters. Kudos to the people working there, they relieve us from stress, no matter how stressed they have been the whole day. Working each and everyday takes lots of effort. While Sunday is a holiday for everyone, Sunday turns out to be the most busiest days for them. With one day off on Tuesdays, they slog each and everyday. Their work demands so much more than what we think. One small mistake while a shave can lead to bleeding and one small mistake while a hair cut might make them lose a customer forever. There is no room for error in their profession.

Why am I stating all this? Why should this be highlighted? Some people's thinking- वो हज्जाम हैं और ये ही उनका काम हैं ! I am writing this to mainly change the attitude of people towards the people working in such places. The arrogance of the people , the way they order the salon guy, sometimes makes me feel to slap them hard. वो तुम्हारा नौकर नहीं हैं - ज़रा सी इज़्ज़त दे दो यार ! Salons have become a necessity these days more than luxury and comfort.

THANK YOU- This word makes a lot of difference. Bollywood came out with a dialogue : 

"Dosti mein No SORRY and No THANK YOU". But these 2 words are actually more important to defuse a sad situation very soon. When we go to a salon , just by saying "Thank You" to the person, you will see him being happy and I assure you he will never forget you. They are hardworking people using their skills to make you look better. They don't expect anything in return but appreciation. 

"Next time when you visit any salon or a parlour or a spa, just give that person a smile, appreciate him/her, say him/her- THANK YOU and recommend their name to others." Many also expect you give them some money in the form of a tip. Again that's voluntary and whoever chooses to can also spend a bit extra from his pocket. 

This might not be an interesting read or it may be a short one but I just wanted to share this with all my readers so that when they go to the salon next time they go with a different mindset and also give the person there some happiness by appreciating his/her work.

Would love to end with a Hindi Shayari: 

हमेशा खुश रहो पर खुशियों को बांटो  ,

दूसरो को दुःख पहुँचाने वालो को ज़रूर डाँटो 

बाल काटने वाला भी होता हैं किसी का पिता या होती हैं किसी की माता 

THANK YOU बोलने से यार कोई छोटा नहीं बन जाता !!

जय हिन्द !! Take Care guys ! See you all in March with some other interesting topic!! 

PS: The images used above are of two good salons in Seshadripuram, Bengaluru . Do visit and don't forget to say "Thank-You" !