Let’s Start Small
Once upon a time, I started to write this with the title The Death of Common Courtesy. This time around I am going to try and stay more positive.
Our world has been turned upside down the last couple of years, or more. COVID has been the biggest culprit, with Donald Trump coming in a close second, and then the war with Russia, the global Supply Chain issues, gas prices, and overall inflation in the United States, life has been tough for lots of people. Given all that literally EVERYONE on the planet is dealing with, it seems the least we could do is be as nice to each other as possible, and to recognize this fact when it happens.
When I say start small it is because I am not talking about big things here, and I also realize with smartphones and social media and the fact that most people these days walk around/drive around with their faces stuck to their screens, that what I am asking is even that much harder, but still…
Let’s be specific:
Open a door for someone, or let them go first
Say please and thank you…crazy right
God forbid, make eye contact once in a while and smile (this one works well with the first two)
Stop for someone to cross the street, or get into their car, or let them park rather than rushing around them, and if you are the recipient of any of these “common courtesies” make eye contact and say thank you, or maybe give the courtesy wave, or even just a slight nod of recognition would be an imporvement
I know that I am asking a GREAT deal here and that we have to go back a generation or two or three to figure out when these things stopped being taught, but given the world we live in now and all that everyone is having to deal with isn’t it at least worth a shot to try and make someone’s day just a TINY bit better and in the process be a SLIGHTLY better human.
Just a thought :)
