Now days, we get all sorts of advice on tipping... calculate to the penny, never tip more than 15%, never tip less than 18%, take off for mistakes, it depends on how "fancy" the restaurant is, how much time you spend there, how many people are in the group, etc. I eat out a lot and tend to "people watch." (I think that's part of human nature, but even more so for writers!) One thing I notice is how miserable many people make themselves judging a server's performance and how much to give them afterwards. These people never relax, never enjoy their dinner, never appreciate the person that is waiting on them.

Having worked in restaurants, I can tell you that no tip is ever enough! Even with the minimum wage laws, the majority of wait staff start at $2.90 per hour! Some are even required to share their tips with the bussing service. They not only deal with the people they are waiting but often with other servers' tables. They deal with over-rushed chefs, over-worked bussing staff, and very often overly stressed management. It's not an easy job. And if anyone ever wants to learn gratitude for another person who performs a service, I challenge you to take a position as a waiter or waitress for just two weeks. You'll learn appreciation like never before!

With that said, I find it easy to tip generously. I don't have a lot of extra cash to spend. My tips often mean one less cappuccino or one less book or other commodity out of my $20 weekly "allowance." But I don't mind. I'm a firm believer that what I give comes back in increased measure. I think of it like tithing - the only difference is that I know the money I give is going to be appreciated and probably very much needed. And I've noticed that since I began tipping generously (20% on most meals, but never less than $2.00 on a full meal that might cost under $10) I NEVER get bad service. It's not like the wait staff knows ahead of time that I'll tip well. And I don't expect their service to be any better or any worse dependent upon my tips. I just take my meals with an attitude of gratitude. If they make a mistake, I understand and request it to be corrected, easily forgiving their human-ness. If they're having a bad day, I try to bring some Light to it with humor or an empathetic comment. People need to know they're appreciated. I don't hesitate to show it. And consequently, I know I'm being appreciated so it's easy to leave a good tip.

I don't just tip wait staff, either. I tip at bagel shops, coffee shops, smoothie shops, ice-cream shops, and anywhere else that has a tip cup. I know it helps. I know it's appreciated. And I know my attitude of generosity and gratitude is always returned. It's a form of faith. I don't need to expect it as an exchange, I simply know that the Universal Law of what you give out comes back to you in increase measure really works! I've seen it in action. It feels good to be generous and it feels good to be appreciated. This applies to both the customer and server and creates a good ground for a pleasant relationship with those you do business with.

So the next time you're out, sit back, enjoy the meal, be grateful, and tip well. It feels the cherry on top of the whipped-cream!

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