When my husband and I were on our way to dinner I watched while an employee tried to tell a guy he couldn’t have dinner there.

“You never put in a reservation and there is no room,” he was told.

The customer smiled and said that he knew the employee would take care of him.

“You always do such a great job taking care of us. I know you will find a place for me,” he said as he kept smiling.

The employee held firm, saying “no reservation means no dinner.”

I expected the guy to lose his cool because we all pay a stiff price to belong there. No employee has the right to deny a member dinner since dinner is included in the membership.

Requiring reservations is relatively new. I think it’s a stupid policy, especially when I look around and see empty seats.

I thought the customer would be angry. Instead, he had a surprising reaction.

He laughed. A big hearty laugh. There were no angry words and no consternation.

“I know you will take care of me like you always do,” he said again, still smiling.

The employee hesitated then told the guy they would seat him.

Chalk up another victory to an easy smile instead of angry words.

This guy has a skill I don’t have. Maybe few of us do. He knows the benefit of laughing when you least feel like it.

Many, if not most of us, would be angry at something that doesn’t make sense.

Would you laugh when you were being denied something that was rightfully yours?

But I must say the man who relied on laughter instead of angry words got a positive result.

Two days later I had to go to the dining room three times before I could find someone to make my reservations. This time I was the one who was told no by an employee taking reservations.

She said it was impossible to give me reservations for the same time each day.

She had me scheduled for dinner at 5:15 p.m. one day then 6 the next followed by 4:45 the third day.

I told her no way. My stomach doesn’t work that way. For me, it’s best to have dinner at the same time every day.

“That’s impossible,” the employee kept insisting, even though I pointed out most patrons have a regular time for meals.

Unlike the guy who laughed his way through an unreasonable requirement by an employee, I just tried to talk reason. She wasn’t buying it.

When I couldn’t get anywhere with her, I simply walked out, thinking I would find a different employee more customer savvy.

When my husband and I went to dinner that night, we lucked out. A supervisor took care of us. She showed us how to use an app to make reservations with no human contact.

I hate apps. I hate passwords, too. But it’s getting hard to do anything without using both.

Why must life be so complicated? I was told businesses like having everything automated so no employee has to spend time doing it.

By the time I have to make more reservations next week, I probably will have forgotten a password or a procedure.

Until then I’ll forget about it so I can keep my good humor.

I’m learning not to let anyone ruin my day, even if it means relying on an avoidance technique instead of a confrontation. I’m learning to bypass unreasonable people instead of trying to get through to them.

Would you be able to laugh if you were told you can’t eat at the same time every day?

I simply don’t want to lose my good humor.

Just for fun I googled AI to ask how to best maintain good humor.

It actually came up with some good solutions.

AI’s top recommendation was that we need to spend more time in joyful interactions.

Amen, brother. That’s something I believe in.

Instead of wasting my time in dumb interactions that will get me nowhere, I simply walk away. Years ago I would have stayed there and argued.

Another way I make the most of each day is to look for people with an appreciation of life.

A long time ago I learned that if you want to find joyful interactions hang out with joyful people. Even short encounters can be worthwhile.

A simple walk becomes a happy event when other walkers offer smiles and greetings. I don’t know if it’s just in my new neighborhood but I find other walkers and some people on their way to work give me a smile and say good morning. Some, mostly older folks, stop to chat a little.

I believe we tend to have more positive experiences with positive people.

One of my new neighbors told me she finds it rubs off on her when she is with a friend who constantly complains about everything and seems to hate life. “It kills my own good mood,” she says.

I know what she means. The company you keep does contribute to your mood.

Some of my friends never fail to add to my joy.

When we realize how limited our time on Earth is, we want to make the most of every single day.

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net