Please and Thank you

Lif’es so busy these days and people have become so preoccupied with their own lives, worries and struggles. We’re all guilty of gradually overlooking a simple thing called common courtesy. It’s not a big stretch to try to re-implement this concept into our daily lives, but it will take effort, at least initially. it’s time for manners to make a come back.

Things like holding doors open for others and even smiling at passersby have suddenly become outdated and passe. The me-first mentality has taken over and rather than helping one’s neighbor, it’s all become one huge competition. This is particularly exemplified by road rage. Common courtesy can be illustrated by letting a car merge into one’s lane, instead of tailgating the car ahead so as not to leave any room for someone to “cut in”. Why the anger? What has stress become so second nature? Can the five seconds of letting a car merge really inconvenience anyone that much?

The magic words like “please” and “thank you” are also fazing out of society. Service is expected- no, it’s demanded and there will be no please or thank you’s about it. Having worked in customer service myself, it’s easy for me to say that a person gets alot farther with niceties.

Holding doors open for others is a great example of exercising common courtesy, and it’s not even hard to do. And, thanks in advance if you already do hold doors open for people.

AAlso, it’s sad that this needs to be said, but I will: PLEASE watch your children in the waiting room. It doesn’t matter where, whether it’s the doctor’s, hair salon or nail salon. Nobody likes a screaming snot-nosed kid running around, with mommy too busy to reprimand the miscreant. By the way, I am a receptionist, and I can say right now that I do not get paid to watch children. Don’t assume others will step in if a pedophil walks in and takes them. We’ll be so glad for the silence, we’ll assume it’s the father and leave it at that. Please teach children the same manners we were all taught growing up, and society qwill be happier for it.

It’s been said before, but the truth remains: everyday and everyone would be so much happier if we all just looked out for one another. Helping is far easier than hurting so why has hurting become so second nature? Hold a door open for someone next time, be aware of others and have consideration for those around. It can brighten someone’s day.

I believe common courtesy has got to make a comeback. Please and thank you.