Some say it’s dead. Kaput. Gone. A thing of the past, an anachronism.
You know, saying please and thank you. Putting your phone away in the grocery line. Making eye contact and acknowledging someone with a smile when they speak to you.
Wait! What? Am I writing an obituary for common courtesy?
Sort of. The flight attendant on my flight just thanked me for removing my headphones when she offered me a drink. Obviously, it is common to snub people just because one is wrapped up in their tunes or podcast.
Did you ever think that the uniqueness of human interaction would be lost on a generation? To think that the person standing in front of you was less important than something you could turn off and then back on? Remember, you only get those opportunities once and then they are gone. Like forever.
What if, maybe, you had the chance to revive good old common courtesy? Perform CPR on the old girl before she passes. Like the “idea” that is ignored and chastised in the IBM ad, maybe if we all embraced daily kindness and politeness, things might be more civil. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
- Ending your phone conversation in the grocery line when your turn comes.
- Saying please, thank you and “you’re welcome.”
- Holding a door for the person behind you as you enter or leave a building.
- Putting your phone away at a meeting or a meal.
- Writing a thank you note for a gift.
- Letting a merging car into line in traffic.
- Asking the waiter how their day is going—and meaning it.
This list could get long, but let’s try this for now. I know most of us are out of practice, so try this today and keep it up. Maybe we can not only revive the art but also start a trend. Might be nice.
Relentless
