Miscellaneous Manners

I wasn't sure I would make it onto my blog today...having all sorts of wireless problems. The trouble is I can never tell if it's me or the computer or the network. My son assures me that because we are 'crossing over' (virtually speaking) from our old system to this wireless stuff, we have to wait patiently as everything revolves around the 'billing' side of things. He tells me our speed and internet service at the present time is the equivalent to the old 'dial up' and that in a few short days, we will convert over to high speed wireless broadband...I hope this is true because it is very frustrating.

But onto other things...I saw on one of the current affair shows aired on telly last night where a couple of restaurants and shop keepers are taking a stand on the lack of manners in today's society.

Good on them - I say.

And it is none too soon...

It is music to the soul to hear someone pay their respects or show their gratitude after you have gone out of your way to help them (no matter how small). Common courtesy should be automatic and not something we hold back on. It doesn't cost us anything and sometimes when I witness a lack of manners in someone, I take particular note of their body language and attitude. It's their lack of common courtesy I notice about them - not in a positive way, nor a judgmental way, just a 'duly noticed' flag. I begin to ask myself questions about that person...it makes me take a deeper look at that person's character and I begin to wonder about them.

It is the small things in a person's character that adds colour and life to them. Saying thank you and genuinely meaning it, is gracious and builds upon relationship. There are degrees of relationships stemming from a brief encounter with a total stranger who perhaps holds open the door, to the sales assistant who helps with a transaction, to business acquaintances dealt with on a daily, weekly, monthly or annually basis, to friends and family who know us well.

Showing manners is a strength of character and there is no excuse for not using them. It is like a smile ... costs us nothing, but instantly instills and extends warmth and friendliness to a fellow human being.

Why do people withhold their manners? Is it because they just want to be rude? Does their generation mean they find themselves exclusive and therefore have no need to do it anymore? Is it a display of passive/aggressive behaviour...a power trip, or that the person who should be thanked is totally unworthy of acknowledgment? Do we simply undervalue the worth of a service? Is something so menial that it doesn't initiate even a few small words from our mouths?

It is interesting and I agree with the cafe proprietor for refusing to hand over the salad he had just made a rude customer. I'm glad he made a stand. He is a change maker. As he said, I can't change the world, but I can change my world (local area)...good on him. If we all did that, the world would be a far better place.

For many years I have been a primary school teacher and now work as a supply teacher (by choice). Almost every teaching day I am confronted with children and their manners, or their lack of manners...depending on the children and the situation. Hats off to the parents who have made manners a priority in their child/ren's life...and thankfully, there are a high number of them. Sadly though, there are many who don't seem to care.

At the end of the day or week, when I am handing out 'treats' or small awards for positive behaviour that has been displayed in the classroom, it is interesting to note just who says thank you. Amazingly, a high of students number don't exercise their manners when receiving their gift. Is this self absorbed behaviour or an attitude that dictates 'I deserved it so I shouldn't have to thank anybody'? They forget that it was my choice to implement the treat, just as it is a choice for someone to help us or perform a service (even if they get paid to do so), we should still have the good manners to thank them.

'Be thankful in all circumstances...' 1 Thess:18