Don’t be discouraged when you encounter people who aren’t
courteous to you. Teach them the right
way to act by setting an example of good social behavior. You may just be the person who changes their
life for the better.
Do your best to be a good person all day; every day. Be the kind of person that you wish everyone
else was. It’s hypocritical to complain
about the way that other people behave if you act the same way. Start by wearing a smile instead of a
frown. Even a smirk will do. It’s contagious. Be friendly and complimentary of people. Say kind things whether they are deserved or
not. Be the first person to speak when
you encounter someone new, whether it’s a salesperson or a random stranger that
you pass in the grocery store. People
are affected by compliments, whether they acknowledge it outwardly or not. A kind and gentle word from you can make a
world of difference to someone who is having an otherwise bad day. Do the same thing for your family and
friends. Pick something about that
person; their appearance or something good about their character, and give them
a little praise or just tell them how much you appreciate them.
Stay aware of your surroundings. Each time you walk through a doorway look
ahead and then behind you and hold the door for the next person. Let people with fewer items ahead of you
while waiting in a check-out line.
Always watch where you are going so that you don’t bump into people and
be sure to look behind you when you’re walking backwards. If you are pushing a shopping cart around a
store, park it in strategic ways so that it will not block other people who
wish to pass. If someone near you drops
something, pick it up and give it back to them.
Offer to help children, the elderly, or those with limited abilities to
reach something on a high shelf or to carry something that is too heavy for
them to handle.
Drive like every car around you is transporting someone you care
about. Don’t cut people off or give
nasty hand gestures. Give people,
especially motorcycles plenty of room by allowing a safe following
distance. When you stop in a line of traffic,
be sure not to block entrances and exits.
Leave enough space for people to pass.
Drive slow and safe through parking lots and if you see people about to
cross in front of you, allow a few extra seconds for them to cross safely. Don’t try to speed up and get by before they step
in front of you. When parking your car,
check before you walk away from it to see if you are parked correctly. Use your horn only in the worst scenarios. If people around you do stupid things, take a
deep breath and forgive them rather than acting out on your anger to make sure
they get your point.
Don’t talk louder then you need to in restaurants or
stores. Do not use foul language in
public unless you are seriously injured and then it’s forgivable in small doses. Do not talk on your mobile phone while performing
a business transaction. This includes
sales counters and drive thru’s. If your
phone rings during a transaction, silence it, wait until you’re done and then
return the call. If you are a smoker, be
courteous of other people and choose the places you smoke carefully. I realized soon after I quit smoking just how
bad second hand smoke imposes on non-smokers.
Don’t leave messes for other people to clean up. This includes restaurants, restrooms, stores,
and other people’s homes.
By setting a good example and following these simple
suggestions, you could influence more people than you’ll ever realize. People may even imitate some of your good
habits unintentionally. Even the most
minor improvements are a step in the right direction. Learning to truly forgive is the best thing
you can do to help you stay on the right track.
