Will B. Having Cub fever
It’s time again for my thoughts on good manners. Unfortunately, there seems to be a rash of bad manners breaking out throughout the Young County area, at least according to local social media sites.
I pride myself on my good manners and being kind to everyone I meet. Both are free and generally take little effort. A smile and a kind word can do as much good in a person’s day as running into a well-mannered individual. My manners, though, have most likely cost me many a fun evening because I never go anywhere or to anyone’s home without first receiving an invitation. Although I do make some exceptions when it is work-related, such as events around the community.
So here are a few tips that may help your manners shine:
- Hold the door for not only ladies but your elders. The same goes for car doors.
- When meeting someone new, make eye contact, introduce yourself, and offer a firm handshake with a greeting such as, “nice to meet you.”
- While driving, please use your common courtesies; for example, take a moment before pulling into traffic to see if you are going to cut someone off. It only takes a few seconds or a couple of minutes if you must wait. Nothing is more aggravating than being cut off, except for being cut off and the person drives under the speed limit. When you cut someone off in traffic or cut in line, it states that your time is more important and is just plain rude!
- Don’t be afraid to render aid to a stranded motorist or pedestrian. The chances are remote that something bad will happen, but if you are worried, simply stay in your car and offer to call someone for them.
- While out in public, offer plenty of genuine smiles, head nods, and hugs if you’re so inclined. You never know what is going on with someone on any given day, and this simple free act can be all the difference needed to change a person’s day for the better.
- Call before showing up at someone’s home. It is not only rude, but could save you from witnessing an embarrassing situation.
- Be on time to appointments, both social and work-related. Others time is just as important as yours.
- And my No. 1 pet peeve as well as high up on my good manners list is do what you say and say what you mean. By this I mean your word is your bond. I consider my word or handshake as a binding contract. Don’t give your word frivolously.
If you agree to be somewhere or do something, then do it.
This is Will B saying, every southern gentleman always holds the door for the ladies.