Behaving Badly

Darlings...why is everyone behaving so badly? It seems I can't go anywhere anymore without being accosted by bad manners! I think it's television. The other day I was in the grocery store, I hope you read last Sunday's column, and a young man tried to pick me up. It was rediculous. I felt like I was in cougar town! I do not want to be flirted with a boy who Doesn't know who Donovan was or the Kinks or never had fizzies in their drinks. What a bore.

Have you noticed lately that it is just about impossible to get a word in during a conversation. Everyone is always talking about themselves. It's one thing to use that as a conversational tact when you have nothing to say, but to just go on talking and talking about yourself and never asking one question of the other is just plain rude.

When was the last time you heard a child say thank you without being prodded? If you did, it was probably my granddaughter! I have seen adults stop dead in their tracks when she thanks them for opening the door or for handing her something. Isn't that sad...

It just takes one idea to change something. Just a pleasantry of a hello or thank you will make someone's day or maybe their week. It's so simple to be polite. Just treat each other the way you would like to be treated.

Let's stop behaving badly and be a good example.
You know I'll do my part.
xoxoAmanda

You Have Bad Manners!

Telling someone they have bad manners is just as rude as having the bad manner to begin with. Plus, it's focusing on the negative. Instead, be an example. If you hold a door for someone and they pass through without saying the proper thank you, just say, "You're welcome." They'll get the message and probably say thank you after you reminded them.

If your child is eating with their mouth open ask them to please chew with their mouth closed. If they persist, ask them to leave the table. This can backfire once the child figures out if they hate what they're eating they can be excused if they chew with their mouths full; so use this sparingly.

If someone calls you up on the phone and starts shouting at you, just say you can't hear them and hang up. When they call back if they are still shouting, tell them that there must be something wrong with the phone and that they should call back later. This gives them time to cool off and probably forget what they were so angry about.

Good manners is about deference and defection of bad manners. As we all know, it's better not to say anything than to say something negative. If we focus on the positive our lives will be so much better. Sometimes you have to search for the positive, but I can promise, you will find something to be positive about.
xoxoAmanda

Awareness

Being aware of your surroundings is good manners. It would be pretty hard to have good manners if you aren't aware of what is going on around you. You could practice good etiquette because etiquette is about rules and you can memorize rules. Manners are about action and reaction to the moment.

Generally people who have excellent etiquette skills are boring and have no passion, unless of course they're passionate about etiquette!

Manners are essential to a great life, because if you don't pay attention, life will pass you by and what would be the fun of that?

So open your eyes and see, listen and hear and do the right thing. This is why people with good manners have a great life. It's simple.

xoxoAmanda