If you want to change the world around you, start by changing yourself from within. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, focus your time and energy on the positives.
When I was younger, I worked at a dollar store for two and a half years. Many would think it was an easy job and that I should have been happy. But the reality was different. I felt miserable due to the long lines, one manager who constantly screamed at me and made unreasonable demands, customers who followed me home, and more. The more I dwelled on these negatives, the worse my job became.
At one point, a customer threw her iced coffee at me because I had to check IDs to sell lighters, following store protocol. It was a rule that had been in place for years. After she was escorted out and banned, my head manager, the actual boss, told me to go home early for the day and take a few days off. I think she knew I was burnt out and close to quitting, and this incident pushed me over the edge.
During that week off, I reflected and realized there were more cons than pros to staying in that job. When I returned the following Friday, I decided to try and make it a positive day. While it wasn't perfect, it was better. The lines were shorter, and I could get more recovery work done. This positive trend continued, and things began to improve.
Eventually, my head boss had her baby and quit, leading to a transition to find a new boss. A new team also merged with ours, and they were some of the nicest people. I was able to focus on my favorite job, recovering the store and making it look nice, as the night manager took over the register.
Although I lost this job due to COVID-19, I was happier towards the end of my time there. I became known as the happiest person among my coworkers and customers. Even my favorite customers noticed the change and cheered me on. While it may have seemed like chance that I became happier and things improved, I see it as a blessing.