Sunday Shake up

Manners. Are they a thing of the past?

Yesterday as I was walking back to the car I noticed a car waiting politely with it's indicator on, showing it was going to take a spot being vacated by another car. I noticed because it was only a couple of cars away from mine and I had to be careful that I didn't walk in front of it.

As I watched, a third car came zooming up the row of cars and took the space. They were easily able to as the car backing out was in the way of the car waiting.

I waved at the car that took the space as I walked by showing them that there was a car waiting, and they continued to park.

I was really upset by this. Don't ask me why. It had nothing to do with me. But as the two people got out of their car, I called out.... hey guys, you've taken a spot that that car was waiting for.

At which point the man (who was not driving) started to have a go at me. "We've been driving around for ages, we need a car park to, why didn't they drive into the car park if they were waiting for it"..... and on and on. I pointed out that they were actually in the wrong to which I got more abuse.

But as they walked away I got more and more angry.

The people who were waiting, were giving me the thumbs up and waving and saying thanks to me, and as I got in my car (two cars down), they took my spot instead and we had a smile and another wave at each other. But I was so upset. They could have had my spot. It would have taken 2 seconds. And 3 sets of people would all have been happy.

Instead they were totally rude and took what they thought was rightfully theirs, when in fact it wasn't. It is THIS type of attitude that I believe is driving this world to ruin. Ok, ok, so that's over dramatic. But really, what was sooooo important that these people thought they could take someones car park who had been waiting patiently with their indicator on?

What made their time more valuable?

What gave them the right to be so rude to another couple and then have a go at me when they were confronted by their wrong?

Unfortunately, I'm seeing more and more and more of this behaviour (and from older people who should know better! and not just with cars, this is just one example) and to be honest, it makes me incredibly sad. The world is becoming sooooo selfish. And I've had enough of it.

So this week my challenge to you is to be polite. To use your manners. To teach your children to, and to pull them up when they don't.

Teach your children to open doors for others, stand up for older people when seats are full on a bus/train and do it yourself!

Say please and thank you and most importantly, when you say 'excuse me' add 'please' to the end - you are asking someone to move, it's only polite to say please! (another one of my pet peeves! But lets not get started on that or we'll be here all day)!

They are very very simple things, they don't hurt us. In fact when you get a smile from the person you're interacting with you often feel so much better about yourself. So why not?!

And before I leave this post, I'm going to leave you with a story of the opposite behaviour that warmed my heart.

The star was a little girl that could barely walk. She was tiny. Can't have been much more than 2? We were both in a supermarket, and she was carrying a basket that was almost as big as her. As she walked past me to get to her grandmother she bumped me with the basket. She turned around to me and with a HUGE smile she said "I'm sorry". Apart from the face that was so cute, the manners she had were impecable. It really did melt my heart and I was so impressed that I stopped her grandmother and explained what happened and what beautiful manners she had.

See the difference in the two stories? Yeah.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Comments

[sandra m]

here here. Hubby and I comment often about the lack of manners today. I recently held a door open for a man leaving a store, he walked through and carried on!!!!! And often it isn't today's youth that are the issue but older people

[Vicki Parker]

Please and thank you are still magic words in our house. :)

[Topkatnz]

Some people are too busy playing the blame game to get the gist of this. My daughter for one...trying to get her to apologise for anything is like pulling teeth.'but it's not my fault!' Is her catch phrase. Doesn't matter, not an issue of fault I say, you bumped into 'something' Say sorry.grrrrrr! Others it just comes naturally to. I always say sorry even when someone bumps into me, just nice. Greases the wheels of life. The number of times I have been the one sitting/standing back waiting while everyone takes their turn and been shafted by unthinking people is too many to count. I still try and let it go. No need to add my insult to injury!but double grrrrr!!being the bigger person is real tough sometimes;)

[mandyb]

yip that kind of thing makes me mad too!!
and i also say something!!! lol

i always love to give my park to someone if i can!!!
pay it forward for sure!!!

and at kindergarten i always expect manners....others dont worry but i refuse to expect rudeness....or children who think they deserve the world!!!
hello...you gotta earn it missy!!!
lol

[Pauline Parker]

Also one of my pet peeves..but how about opening a door for yourself to go through and having a man push past you!!!Grrr!!!

[megan Gourlay]

Not the first time Ive heard or seen that and yes manners do seem to be lacking in general..When people come into hospital sometimes manners seem to be left at the door too, and I realise it can be a stressful time but "Get me a blanket Im cold" could so easily be " Could I have an extra blanket please" thats what happened yesterday :(

[MaryLouH]

I had a set of alphabet punches that I had no use for. There is a little 10 year old girl who has been coming to my Stampin' Night with her grandmother. She sits down and works right along with the grown-ups. I decided to give her the punches rather than give them to Goodwill. I don't know how many times she said "thank you" after I gave her the punches. That doesn't happen very often any more. You are lucky if you get one thank you, not a bunch. Made me really happy that I'd given her the punches.

[Hannah]

Yes, good manners are so important. It's amazing how a simple gesture like giving a car park to somebody could actually impact significantly on the other person - it could be the ONLY good thing that happens to them that day! We can make a difference in people's lives by just being a little more patient and kind. Great post, Trina.

[Janis in ID]

The story of the little gal is sooooooo precious. She is a good example to us all!!

Umm...er...I don't mean to be rude, but did you ever choose the winner for your wee RAK you mentioned during the PaperHaus Blog Hop???? I think I must have missed the winner announcement. :(