Kindness is Using Your Manners

Scroll down for the Landing Page (aka Table of Contents) for this series.

Kindness is remembering to be polite and use other good manners.

Why do we need them, you ask?

“Good manners can mean the difference between success and failure in many aspects of life. Knowing and exhibiting proper etiquette is essential to any civilization.” ~ Debby Mayne

This is true because we like to live around and work with people who exhibit good manners. Such people are thoughtful and considerate of others. Such people tend to be leaders and to be trusted.

Emily Post, The Queen of Manners Education says, “Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.”~Emily Post

Throughout the years, manners etiquette has changed because our views of what’s important have changed. Men no longer routinely open the door for women. Women apply lipstick in any setting, including out in public. And children are not required to be quiet when in the presence of older people.

When my kiddos were little, I went through a book on etiquette with them. We talked about things like the following …

1. Don’t Interrupt a conversation.
2. Use your words instead of your fists.
3. Politely ignore food (on your plate) you don’t like.

These are still proper actions to follow. There are also other actions that will never be out-of-style. In my opinion, some of these actions include the following …

• Be on time.
• Clean up after yourself (in private and public spaces).
• Look people in the eye when conversing.
• Say, “Please” and “Thank-you.”
• Send thank-you notes.
• Use people’s names when addressing them.

Two places we could use better manners are on social media and when driving. It is actually shocking to see all the rude, intolerant, entitled, and even cruel behavior in both of these spheres,

When we exhibit good manners, we not only have more harmonious relationships, we also show people they are valued. Good manners are necessary even when others don’t deserve them. It is about us acting in a friendly, kind way no matter what. It is basic human decency. If more folks were mannerly on the roads and on the internet, both spaces would become a safer and more amicable environment.

This week, evaluate your manners.. Where could you improve?

And let’s all make it a point to be courteous drivers and courteous social media users.

Your Turn . . .

• What good manners would you like to see more of?
• Do you think there is a lack of manners today? If yes, in what areas?

Related Posts . . .

• You Just Might be a Potty Mouth
• SIX Benefits Adults Receive by Writing Thank You Notes

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

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Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.