The Barista's Secret Love Language
Anonymous Cherry Petal #144 · General Confessions
I've been working at a busy coffee shop in downtown for over two years now. I'm 26 and have always seen myself as someone who takes care of others, even if it’s just bringing them their morning caffeine fix with a smile. Recently, though, I started to notice something strange happening during our most hectic mornings when customers are rushing and things can get a bit chaotic. It all began subtly, maybe I’d be filling up an order for someone impatiently tapping their foot or trying to grab my attention over the counter. My natural instinct is to hurry them along, give them what they want as quickly as possible. But there’s something else happening inside of me that's much deeper. As I work, and especially when things get hectic, a part of me starts craving the interaction, craving it intensely. There’s this odd feeling that comes over me where just being reprimanded by someone, or having them shout orders at me from across the counter, can be incredibly arousing. It sounds ridiculous when I put it like that, but there's an adrenaline rush and a sense of satisfaction in fulfilling those needs quickly and well. The most recent incident happened about two weeks ago. A customer was really pushy, trying to get their order rushed because they were late for work. Instead of feeling annoyed or stressed by this (as is common), I found myself almost gleeful at the chance to be needed in that moment. The more demanding he became, the more my heart raced and my mind focused on nothing but pleasing him. It's a strange dynamic because it doesn't make sense with how I view myself, someone who’s nurturing, calm, and caring. And yet, there's this part of me that craves those moments of control or pressure from others. Afterward, I feel both exhausted and incredibly satisfied as if some deep need was met. Is this normal? Should I be concerned about these feelings? Is it something that would fit into a healthier relationship with someone else, or is it just a quirk of mine related to my job? I’m not sure what to make of all this. Can anyone offer any insights or advice?