Tuesday, September 17, 2013

It's the Little Things

It has come to my attention that many of you have forgotten key, valuable lessons that you were taught growing up. Your parents, guardians, siblings, friends and teachers taught you VERY basic things that you were supposed to use in your adult life.  But many of you have forgotten these things.  So let me take this time out of my life to reteach you.

You were taught to use your manners.  Please.  Thank You.  Excuse Me.  I'm Sorry.  You were taught the meaning of all these words.  When you need something from someone, you say, "Can I please...".  When someone does something for you, you say, "Thank you for..."  If you accidentally bump into someone you say, "Excuse me..."  and/or, "I'm sorry".  These are basics.  I was taught to use these words and I was taught to use them correctly.  I'm not sure when people decided that these were unnecessary terms.  They are not.  You need to remember to use them.  Always.

You were taught to put things away after you use them or you no longer need them.  They teach this in school and I'm pretty sure your mother or father taught you that when you are finished playing with or using something, you put it back where it belongs.  All things have places.  Take for instance grocery carts.  You took the cart to place your groceries in it.  You drove it all through the store.  You took it to the register to buy your groceries.  You then took it to your car to unload said groceries.  Why in the hell do you now think that you can just abandon your cart?  The cart that made your shopping experience so much easier.  You should be thanking your cart and putting it back in its place.  They have cart storage in the actual parking lots.  There are almost always an abundance of them.  It's not that hard to put it back.  Leaving it in another parking spot makes it hard for someone to park their car there.  And it makes someone else have to put it back. 

Speaking of grocery stores (but ALL stores included).  If you have something in your awesome, handy, dandy cart and then decide you don't want it.  PUT IT BACK.  Not somewhere else.  Put it back where you found it.  When I was growing up, I can't tell you how many times I heard the phrase, "Now put it back where you found it."  When I'm shopping and I find a package of chicken in the pasta aisle it drives me insane.  You have now just spoiled some perfectly good chicken and you have made someone's job more difficult.  You're the one who decided you didn't want it.  So put it back.    

You were taught to park within the lines.  I'm sure whoever taught you how to drive started you off with the simple skill of parking.  There are two white lines and you fit your car between them.  It's not hard.  You can't pass a driving test if you can't park your car.  So how have you all of a sudden, after many years of driving and perfecting this skill, decided that you can just create your own spot?  You can't.  It doesn't work like that.  If you can't fit your car within the lines, your car is either too big for your britches, you are too busy doing anything but driving your car, you just plain can't drive, or you are just an asshole.  Not parking in the lines screws up the entire dynamic of a parking lot.  

You were taught to clean up after yourself.  If you make a mess, clean it up.  Why do you think it's someone else's job to do it for you?  Parents...if you take your kid out to a restaurant, clean up after them.  I understand you will do anything in the world to prevent a meltdown.  Trust me.  I don't want to see your kid melt down either.  But if what keeps your kid calm is them ripping up 5,000 napkins into 345 million little pieces, pick it up when you leave.

If someone lets you out in traffic, a nice "thank you" wave is appreciated.  They didn't have to let you out, but they're gracious like that.  If I let you walk in front of me in a parking lot, put a little pep in your step to show a little gratitude.

You were taught to do the right thing.  When someone drops something and they don't notice, pick it up and give it back to them.  It will make their day.  People love being treated nicely.  When you find something that is apparently lost, turn it in.  Do you know how many people come up to me at the end of the night looking for a wallet or a phone that they lost?  And do you know how quickly I become their best friend when I tell them someone turned it in?  The relief on their face is enough to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I'm not perfect.  I have done (or haven't done) one or two of these things.  But after having to deal with it so many times, you learn to do the right thing.  

Did you know that there are 7 + BILLION people in the world?  You are not the only one here.  Be courteous.  If we all just stopped for a minute, I know you're busy, but just take one minute to stop and think about how doing small things could make our world a better place.  If you took 1 day to be conscious of how you treat people around you, and how what you do affects the lives of so many people, you might notice that you can afford to make a few adjustments to be a better person.  And making yourself a better person today is bound to make someone else a better person tomorrow.  

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