What’s the first impression you want to give people?
The Unexpected First Impression
Everyone wants to make a good first impression—whether it’s in an interview, meeting new friends, or just navigating everyday life. But what about the times when you don’t realize you’ll ever see someone again, and the version of you they meet happens to be… well, the worst possible one?
When I was pregnant with my first child, I worked as a cashier at Price Chopper. I was extremely sick throughout my entire pregnancy. I could barely keep water down, and certain smells—especially the fried chicken from the deli—sent me straight into nausea. It didn’t matter how far away I was; the second I caught that scent, my body had already decided what was going to happen.
One day, a customer came through my line with a container of (of course) fried chicken. I tried so hard to hold myself together, but there was no making it to the restroom. It was either the garbage can or the floor. So I grabbed the garbage can.
Years later, I ran into the same woman. I didn’t recognize her at first, but she recognized me immediately—as the pregnant girl who threw up while checking her out.
Imagine being remembered for that. Not for being kind, or helpful, or even just a decent cashier—nope. I was the girl who nearly threw up on her shoes.
At least it wasn’t because I was rude. Just a very pregnant, very nauseous girl who could not handle the smell of fried chicken.
If nothing else, I learned that you can’t control first impressions—sometimes they just involve a trash can and a box of fried chicken. At least now I can laugh about it, and honestly, I hope she can too.
The Cozy Cauldron 
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