Day 7 - The Struggle

My office is on the 18th floor of a high rise, and our cafeteria is on the 9th floor. One of the perks of working for my company is that they provide us with three meals almost every day. Since most other companies in the building don't offer similar perks, I occasionally feel awkward when I'm carrying my food in the elevator. I've gotten many annoyed looks, and the occasional annoyed comment during my year and a half in this building.

While I don't feel that it's necessarily fair to blame me, specifically, for the issue of inequality and gentrification in the city, I do understand the sentiment. I'm also aware that while I might try to be friendly, and to have positive interactions with other elevator patrons, not everyone else I work with makes the same effort. 

This morning I grabbed some oatmeal on the 9th floor and then headed to the elevator. Another employee at my company was waiting for the elevator too, and politely held the door for me. Both of his hands were full with food, so he was having difficulty flashing his badge and pressing the button for the 19th floor. I noticed, and asked "19?" He looked a little embarrassed, and said "yes, thank you! It's always a struggle..."

While I know that his comment was completely well intentioned, and he only meant to make casual conversation, I immediately cringed inside. Using the word struggle to describe having your hands too full with free food to press a button might not come off well to the others on the elevator. Although I understood it for what it was, and laughed politely.