It's the time of year to think of the elderly and the less fortunate.
Christmas is a tradition that is obviously Christian. That being said, most of our major religions contains similar themes at different times of year. Regardless of whether you choose Islam, Judaism, Buddhism or even those who choose spirituality without a major religion or are completely agnostic might agree that the Christmas period causes many of us in Australia and New Zealand to reflect on what is important.
To me, I reflect on the importance of family and friends but for some reason or another, I also reflect on those in a less fortunate or marginal position. For around a decade I have travelled extensively, and this time of year was always one to be looked forward to as it marked the end of yet another hectic year of work and travel.
I always enjoyed the change of traveler at this time of year, fewer high heels and suits and more t-shirts, mini-denim skirts and boardies. I also noticed a type of traveler that was much more mature and many with a working-class character.
This evening I went to a food and beverage outlet at Adelaide Airport. You were unable to order at the counter, you had to scan an app. The app required not only a smart phone but your provision of e-mail address, phone number, name and credit card number. Putting the obvious privacy concerns aside, think of the pensioner visiting a family member without a smart phone. Think of the housekeeper, new to Australia without a credit card or a high fee on their home country credit card used in a foreign land. Think of your fellow Australian or New Zealander who has little choice than to rely on the hard currency as opposed to a digital version of it.
We need to remember that physical cash is the preferred payment method of the elderly, those who rely on welfare and those on a low income. Those people, who travel through airports over the Christmas periods. It's this time in the customer service business, more than ever, that we need not forget those less fortunate to ourselves.
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