Courtesy Begins with You

All too often we go out into the world with high expectations of everyone else. We expect that all our needs will be fulfilled when we want them not when our surroundings are ready to take care of our needs. I've seen people exercise impatience at the pharmacy as the pharmacist is answering questions its recipient has about a new prescription. I am sure you have encountered this person as well, huffing, complaining, dramatic sighs, turning around, checking their watch, then finally scanning around to see if someone else is there to help them out. Have you been witness to the aggravated driver behind you who rides the back of your car as to tell you to hurry along, break the law by going over the speed limit all because their business and destination is more important than your safety and the safety of your passengers? Maybe you have experienced someone peeking over your shoulder when you are trying to make a bank transaction. Possibly you have been victim of the quick driver in the parking lot who races into the space you were waiting for ignoring your directional signal then they proceed to give you unkind looks as they race into the store. You feeling deflated them feeling like they won the competition.

We, we, we. We all have been granted the same amount of time. One minute to me is equal to one minute to you. What we do with that time and how valuable that time is depends on how we have carved out our life. I've noticed that many people just proceed without really taking stalk of their surroundings. The phrase it's a dog eat dog world out there often rings in my head. We have to fight for what we want, rather than having our character, professional merits, and reputation get us what we want. One can exercise the best of their moral compass but yet still be left on the non-receiving end. How is that possible?

Being courteous must begin with you. We can't go out and expect courtesy if we ourselves cannot demonstrate courtesy towards others. Do what I say not what I do seems like the motto many people adhere to. Too many people fear speaking up for fear of loss so they comply and go along.

So for today stop and pay attention to your surroundings. Think about how you can be more courteous towards others as you proceed through your day.

Welcome

Welcome to the Courtesy Project!

The word courtesy is a word that has been swirling and twirling around in my head for some time now. Often you will read and hear people and institutions talk about Random Acts of Kindness. There are blogs, webpages and books out all revolving around kindness but how often do you really see it in action. I mean really in action. We don't. Well, at least I don't. I often have to look around me in my daily world and interactions to maybe come across someone else being nice to another. How often does this happen? Not enough!

Day in and day out as I carve out my responsibilities throughout the day and rarely do I see Random Acts of Kindness or courtesy in action. Rarely! It is a sad thought and even sadder to see "uncourtesy" take place. It is not new to hear that Americans are in the midst of their hustle and bustle lives that we often don't slow down enough to acknowledge those around us. Life is hard. Life is busy. Life is stressful. The status of our economic future doesn't add to the already busy lives we lead.

How is it that we have gotten so busy and in such a mode of living that we don't even realize those around us? We often come in contact with more strangers throughout the course of our daily grind than we do family members and friends. Think about it. Leaving the neighborhood at the start of rush hour in the morning I see more strangers than I knew lived here. How many cars surround us waiting for the light to turn green? How many strangers do we come in contact with as we visit the umteen drive thru's over the course of the week? We enter buildings, stores and shops all filled with strangers we have never met before. Granted we don't really care about these strangers because really they don't mean anything to us except that we share the same experience of going along and taking care of our regular personal business.

How many times has someone been courteous to you? Would you recognize it if someone was courteous to you? What would you do? Would you oblige? What would you say? Would you say anything? Do you even care to acknowledge such interaction?

My fear is that we are becoming a nation filled with greed and self-centeredness. That core values aren't being employed by adults and not taught to our children at home or in schools. Americans often measure their own personal success with material things: a nice house in desirable neighborhoods, status cars, private education and opportunities, designer clothing and jewelry, exotic vacations, and the list goes on. Success is also often defined by the titles we've earned or the ladder we climbed or a position in a corporation.

 How can we be courteous to one another when we are fighting to keep our jobs or just fighting to look better than the other candidates so we are hired or promoted? If you're courteous to someone who you are in competition with isn't that to a lesser degree backstabbing?

This blog page is designed to explore courtesy, share examples, and to add good back into the world.

Courtesy

courtesy - {kur-tuh-see} - noun

excellence of mannors or social conduct; polite behavior

a courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression