A few weeks ago, I took my 4-year-old son to a hairdresser for a haircut. Whilst we were waiting for our turn, a rough looking (and sounding) man stood in the doorway and asked to have his haircut too. He was sporting a very long rat-tail and explained that they weren't to touch it, just cut around it. The lovely hairdresser politely nodded and asked him to come in and take a seat. As he walked into the salon, so did the most foul and intense BO I'd ever encountered.
It occurred to me that this hairdresser was now going to have to stand within half a metre of this man, and worse still, she was going to have to handle his grimy hair with complete composure. The thought alone made me gag. A hairdresser I could never be.
But that got me thinking. There are professions that require even more contact than this! Take doctors, for instance. How would they stomach examining and treating certain patients? How difficult must it be to remain completely professional and composed. Treating some gruesome conditions would be hard enough without having the added layer of a very smelly or rude or uncooperative patient. Could I do it? I would say probably not.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, especially if you happen to be in a caring/service profession...
