With a blink of an eye, our world is constantly changing, for the good, but also for the worst. Kids are being raised without morals and are not being taught the importance of good manners. How are kids supposed to make morally correct decisions while they witness the horrific events that are occurring within our society and world today? Kids are now growing up believing that it is okay to not have good manners simply because they are not being taught them nor witnessing them.

Instead of loving one another for who we all are, we are now hating on one another. Why can we not all express ourselves without being criticized for it? It has become out of the norm to complement each other. It is okay to tell someone that you like their shoes, is it not? We now must think twice before going out of our way to talk to someone else. With that said, it is even hard for us to smile at someone we do not know.

We are unable to not make harsh judgements about someone. We have begun to categorize people based on how they act, what they wear, their political party, their skin color, where they live and so many other factors. Why can we not just be Americans? Why can we not just be humans?

Of course we all have a right to our own opinions but why do our opinions have to tear someone else down? They do not have to. Simple as that. We all need to reach back and remember the manners our parents taught us. If you have nothing nice to say, then do not say it.

What is happening to us? We are falling apart in so many different ways, but who would have thought that one day saying “Hi” and smiling to a stranger was too much to ask for.

What happened to taking a moment to stop and smell the roses? Why can we not as a country, or better yet the world, slow down and enjoy the little things in life anymore? We are so caught up in what we have to do today or even next week, the expectations of society and the terrifying occurrences that are happening. We have been branded with the mindset that it is okay to skip out of the small events in life that mean the most. When did it become okay to not sit down as a family to have dinner? When did it become acceptable that we do not have to hold doors for one another? Or what about not being able to say “Please” and “Thank You”. When did this all become okay?

Life is too short to constantly be rude to one another. Say “Please” and “Thank you." Be nice to others, and do not forget all of the good that still exists in the world today. Just remember a smile can go a long way.