Today I came back to my favorite Starbucks at Nanzoft. Whenever I'm troubled or need to recharge, I come here, order a coffee, and sit for an afternoon. Sometimes I read, sometimes I work on reports, and my mood is restored, ready to face future challenges.
What's the magic?
I'm not entirely sure, but when you walk through the door, the tall ceiling design, industrial-style décor, the cheerful greeting from staff, and the attentive barista giving you time to decide which coffee you want—all of it puts you at ease. Add to that the spotless, organized tables and chairs, and even the straws all lined up "facing upward," and you can't help but wonder where such attention to detail comes from.
Today I found the answer.
"Hello, welcome in"
"Mother's Day cake pre-orders now available"
"Thank you, have a good day"
Wearing a black uniform, walking back and forth through the front of the store, adjusting tables and chairs, then pulling out a broom to clean them one by one—that's Mark, who has been serving at this Starbucks Nanzoft location for seven years, with an energetic voice.
I noticed him because while I was sitting and observing the office workers coming in, curious about what kind of lives they led and what they talked about, his figure kept moving in front of me, which sparked my curiosity.
Mark walks and speaks somewhat slowly. He carefully holds a blue cloth and wipes down the tables with effort, tucking chairs tightly against the desks—this is his routine the moment a customer stands up.
Then he goes to the back, rinses out the cloth vigorously, walks to the storage room, takes out a broom, heads to the outdoor smoking area, sweeps up cigarette butts and trash, then switches to a white cloth and stands on his toes to wipe the main door, crouches down to wipe the high stools, paying attention to every cleaning detail.
Next, he walks over to the straw station and arranges all the straws on a tray. He takes the metal container holding the straws to the back to wash it, then picks up each straw one by one, makes sure they're all facing the same direction, and slowly places them back in the bucket, filling it neatly without a single straw sticking above the rim—meticulous and warm.
Just as I'm taking pictures of these small gestures, feeling moved and realizing I can't dedicate myself to my work the way Mark does, suddenly a staff member comes rushing out and walks toward the businesswoman sitting next to me. I think to myself, "Ah, someone else noticed this dedicated employee too," but then I see the staff member looking apologetic, repeatedly explaining, "He's a rather special colleague. Our company works with relevant organizations... they mainly handle some front-of-house work...."
The woman customer cuts off the conversation: "But he keeps walking back and forth like that..."
The staff member: "Yes, yes, we understand that some customers want to relax, so we'll remind him again. We appreciate your patience."
So all of this beauty was actually a misunderstanding on my part. I never expected this woman wouldn't notice Mark's dedication—only that he was walking around, interrupting her phone time. I felt indignant on Mark's behalf, so I just frowned. An employee in the back noticed me and gave me an understanding smile, but Mark's figure quietly disappeared.
After another hour or two, the customers who were originally in the shop had cycled through several times, and only I remained sitting. "Would you like some water, or perhaps...?" I looked up—it was Mark! After I took off my earbuds and we exchanged a few words, he poured me a glass of water, which made me a bit nervous. "I hope he doesn't think it was me who complained!"
"If you want more water, just let me know," he said, setting down the cup with a shy smile. I smiled back and said, "Thank you for your hard work." So that's the reason I can resolve my worries every time I come here.
Starbucks has thoughtfully provided Mark with a warm environment and a place where he can express his genuine nature. All the employees at the Nanzoft location are wonderful too. Every person is born equal. Live well and earnestly, do what you're capable of, radiate positive energy, and that alone is enough to warm others. Such a life is already beautiful enough. I hope that whenever people come to the Nanzoft location to spend time there, they'll give Mark a little more encouragement. And I hope there will be fewer customers like that woman, more people taking the time to appreciate others' efforts. I believe society will become better because of it.
