September - Be Courteous

Do you often find yourself exclaiming over the rudeness of others? I'll confess that I do. In a typical day when I find myself  out and about, too often I run into someone who is so rude that it makes my jaw drop.

Since September is National Courtesy Month, let's talk about rudeness which seems to be a national problem.

MODERN TIMES—PRIMITIVE REACTIONS

How many times have you been in a public place and people are dropping F-bombs all over the place regardless of the presence of children?

Then there are those people in a restaurant with their cell phones in their hands or even worse, yakking away into their phones. 

Why can't they put their phones away and pay attention to the person with whom they're dining?

What about the people in cars who blow their horns and tailgate you or whip around in front of you and try to brake check you because they think you're driving too slow or because you did something in traffic they didn't like?

Whatever happened to patience and courtesy?

Since courtesy begins in the home, it makes me wonder what people are learning at home to help them deal with the world. Was it how to be reasonable and polite or how to show your Mr. Digit Hand Puppet when irritated?

TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Instead of acting like the worst people on a TV reality show, learn how to be a reasonable polite member of society.

If you've got a short fuse, work on yourself and your emotions. Figure out why you seemingly have so much repressed anger. That will definitely improve your health and probably the relationships in your life.

Learn patience. Being impatient when driving can kill you and other people too. Put some calming music on when you drive. Ask yourself if the 10 seconds you might save by driving like a maniac is worth the danger you expose yourself and others to.

Find a way to defuse the stress you feel in dealing with others. Count to ten. Smile—that may make the person dishing out rudeness to stop and think. Learn to practice restraint.

Since children learn courtesy from their parents, become the parent who says "please" and "thank you" and who learns to manage your own emotions so you can teach your children how to do it too.

The world has a problem with people who can't behave on airplanes, in public places, or with those in authority.

What happens to those people? They may end up ostracized or, even worse, under arrest. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Try something different this month. Avoid reacting in negative ways. Be polite. You may find that politness defuses situations and can be met with politness from others.

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