I don’t know about you but I’m big on manners. Not just the everyday use of please and thank you but other fairly basic etiquette rules too.
Being polite means being aware of other people and respecting their feelings. It means making people feel comfortable, respected and valued when they’re around you, regardless of whether you know them or not.
We might not always notice politeness, but we almost certainly notice rudeness or inconsiderate behaviour. (Remember the time I was in a very minor car accident? That was an example of rude behaviour I won’t forget in a hurry!)
Here are a 6 ways to be polite that are easy to do.
1. Say hello to people
If you’re out on your morning walk, arriving at work for the day, sitting down at a conference next to someone, working in a store, walking into a friend’s home – say hello!
Make eye contact, give a smile, shake hands or hug if it’s appropriate and say hello. Don’t ignore others or block them out – that’s rude and won’t go unnoticed.
2. Don’t arrive empty-handed
If someone invites you over for lunch/dinner/whatevs, don’t arrive empty-handed. Show your friends that you appreciate their invitation and the effort that would have gone into the day/evening.
You don’t have to bring anything fancy or expensive with you. A block of chocolate, flowers from your garden or a bottle of wine will do.
3. Don’t take the gift home with you
I am not kidding when I say tell you I have seen this happen. Do not, under any circumstances, bring a gift for the hostess and then take it home.
4. Acknowledge gifts
If someone gives you a gift, acknowledge it. Open it in front of them and say thank you.
If they’ve sent it to you, send them a card (nothing beats receiving a handwritten card in the mail!) or an email thanking them.
5. Let people in
When you’re in traffic, let people in. And if people let you in, give them a wave. It’s polite to do both.
Also, if you’re a school mum or dad and there’s a drop off/pick up zone at your school, don’t push in. Wait in line like the rest of us. We’re all there for the same reason – to pick up our children. Nothing is ruder than waiting patiently in your car to reach the pick up zone, only to have another parent drive in front of you and jump the queue. Am I right?!
6. Keep scrolling
If you see something you don’t like on social media, just keep scrolling. There’s no need to leave a nasty comment. Doing so says more about you than it does about the person, place or thing you’re commenting on.
It’s also there for anyone to see and/or screen shot #awkward
Be polite and scroll on by.
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