The Lost Art of Courtesy and Kindness
When someone does something nice for me, it just really makes my day. How do you feel when someone unexpectedly does something nice for you? I try to help where I can and sometimes, those I've helped try to pay me or ask me what I want in return. My standard answer is to "Pass it forward". I believe that if we all can do something nice for someone and ask them to "Pass it forward", many, many people will then have a nice day!.
I don't know if it is a generational thing or not, but it seems to me that people are getting more rude and displaying a lack of courtesy and a lack of kindness more and more each day. When I was raised (born in 1954), I was taught to address my elders by surnames (e.g. Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith), to open doors for women and elderly (and people with strollers or hands full of shopping). I was taught to show up to an interview (whether it was for a job as dishwasher or executive), dressed in suit and tie, with my shoes polished. Maybe it is my imagination (I want to believe that), but it seems like people just don't care about anyone but themselves.
I was driving on the freeway the other day and no one would let me change lanes to get around a slow truck, even though I waited with blinker on for some time. I remember another time I was waiting for a parking place and someone rushed right in and took it from me with no apology or remorse (like that scene from Fried Green Tomatoes with Kathy Bates). Sometimes the salesperson will be rude (like I am interupting them for help) with no "thank-you for shopping with us", or apology that they didnt have what you needed. Has America lost the human touch of kindness and courtesy?
I personally believe, that most people are kind and courteous. I believe there are a few that show up so loud and rude it takes our breath away......we remember these and forget about the others.
We forget about the person who let you go first at a stop sign, or the person that let you on to the freeway. Every so often, there is a person that just blows a hole in the view that its all going out the window.
I remember another day when I was crossing a bridge and when I went to pay the toll the toll person said the guy ahead of me paid for it....I couldnt believe it....they were total strangers, I couldnt thank them......so I "played it forward".....and said, please do this for the car behind me, and here is money for the one after that!
Moral of the story for me? I think the world needs more kindness and courtesy.....so......let it start with me........what can I do today that will show kindness and courtesy for someone else? Maybe let the person in line for the grocery store go ahead of me (even if they have a whole grocery cart of items), maybe open the door for someone at the store, or hold the door for someone......drop some money in the hand of a person asking for help on the sidewalk, or call a local charity to see if there is something special they need today and pick it up and drop it by.........
Roger Hunt
Private Mortgage Advisors (an affiliate of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.)
Burlingame,CA 94010
650.796.0326
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