As a child, I was taught to say thanks, please, sir, ma'am, good morning, respect my elders, etc. I was always proud that as an adult, these lessons followed me through college and into the workplace, where so many people forget to even say "Good morning!" for fear that saying these two words would somehow cause them harm.
Lately, it seems that having manners have been lost on many people due to stress, or for whatever reasons. The other day, I held the elevator which closes rather quickly and five people jumped on. To my surprise, not even one people bothered to say "thanks." I tried not to let it bother me until a few minutes later, I held the office door for a fellow co-worker who went right through without saying "thanks." Now at this point, I was heated. I asked another co-worker why don't people have any manners anymore and is civility dead? Their response to me was "Not everyone is like you." This response threw me for a loop and all I could say was "What do you mean? Having manners is basic!" But was I wrong?
It just seems that no one cares any more, they'd run you off the street, cut you off while driving, cut in front of you in the grocery line, rush you off a machine at the gym, bump into you without saying "excuse me," frown when you get to the checkout line as if you're bothering them, etc. Now I could get angry and become like them but since I was taught the "basics" as a child and since it has molded me into the woman that I am today, I'll still take the higher road no matter how frustrating. To those without manners, I'd say "It's your loss, because you can catch a lot of bees with honey than you can with vinegar!"
Lately, it seems that having manners have been lost on many people due to stress, or for whatever reasons. The other day, I held the elevator which closes rather quickly and five people jumped on. To my surprise, not even one people bothered to say "thanks." I tried not to let it bother me until a few minutes later, I held the office door for a fellow co-worker who went right through without saying "thanks." Now at this point, I was heated. I asked another co-worker why don't people have any manners anymore and is civility dead? Their response to me was "Not everyone is like you." This response threw me for a loop and all I could say was "What do you mean? Having manners is basic!" But was I wrong?
It just seems that no one cares any more, they'd run you off the street, cut you off while driving, cut in front of you in the grocery line, rush you off a machine at the gym, bump into you without saying "excuse me," frown when you get to the checkout line as if you're bothering them, etc. Now I could get angry and become like them but since I was taught the "basics" as a child and since it has molded me into the woman that I am today, I'll still take the higher road no matter how frustrating. To those without manners, I'd say "It's your loss, because you can catch a lot of bees with honey than you can with vinegar!"
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