What ever happened to manners? They no longer seem to be common among the general population, both kids and adults. I hear a lot of people in the older generations complaining about us younger generations not having manners, but honestly, it’s everyone. Manners range from the general “please” and “thank you,” to not having your phone out at the dinner table, all of which seem to be forgotten. Yes, I am guilty of it too, but I think we need to focus on general etiquette when it comes to interactions between people. So, here are a few simple manners that I have found our society to be lacking.
1. Please
Okay, this one falls under Manners 101. If you need something from someone else, you seriously need to say “please.” It’s just one more word at the end of your question, barely even one more breath. When I’m babysitting I will not give the child anything until I hear the word “please,” so please say “please” whenever you need something.
2. Thank you
This one goes along with “please,” as they go hand-in-hand like peanut butter and jelly. Once someone has done something for you, whether it’s something you requested of them or if it was just as simple as holding doors (more advanced, see #4), always thank them for doing a kind behavior.
3. Asking
Can you please stop demanding things of people? Thank you! See, that’s not hard at all. You won’t get anywhere in life except on people’s irritated side if you keep demanding instead of asking. “Give me this” or“Give me that” will not do anything for you, so please, just ask nicely. It will get you a lot further than you think.
4. Holding doors
As I mentioned in #2, this one may be a little more advanced. If you are walking into or out of a room/building and you find that there is someone doing the same (even if it’s the opposite of you), take a couple extra seconds to just hold the door a little longer until they are either completely through or have hold of the door. Please don’t just let the door fall in their face, it could cause injuries.
5. Saying "Have a good day"
When concluding a conversation with a person, no matter how short it may be, it is always polite to say “have a good day/evening/night.” However, if someone says this to you, please don’t just say “yup” and walk away. Instead, say something along the lines of, “Thanks, you too!” It makes for a pleasant day for everyone involved.
6. Asking “How you are” and continuing to walk away
I often find in casual pass-bys people will say “How are you?” as they continue to walk away, not waiting for any kind of response. If you don’t really care, why ask? I always want to give a response and ask them the same, but I don’t have the chance if they keep walking. So instead, a casual smile (see #8) or head nod will do just as well.
7. Phones at the table
Yes, I am 100% guilty of this just like everyone else, but it is really important to not be on your phone when you are at the table with friends or family. If it’s casual pizza night in the living room or a fend for yourself kind of night, go ahead and use your phone; but if you are sitting at a table that someone took the set and prepare a nice meal, that is family/friend time and a chance to catch up on everyone’s day--no technology needed.
8. Smiling
This may sound like a novel idea and weird to some people, but if you smile at a stranger that you pass by it could make their day so much better. You don’t have to say anything or make a grand gesture, but a smile is a simple act of kindness that reminds some people that there is good in the world when they’ve had a bad day.
These all may seem like simple things that everyone should be doing, but they’re not. Throughout my day I encounter many people who do not do any of these. However, when I come across the people that do, whether it is in person or over the phone, my mood is greatly improved. So, please don’t forget your basic manners in your everyday life--you never know how bad of a day someone is having and your politeness might be their highlight and will to push through the bad.
Thank you and have a good day!
