It has come to my attention how
incredibly ignorant the majority of men are to the basic rules of
etiquette. Manners are all
but forgotten, and sadly, being a bestial and rude person in many circles is considered
its own virtue. I am consistently
flabbergasted by the absurd behavior of my gender. There was a time, not too long ago, when men would
aggressively look for opportunities to showcase their manners. Opening doors for others, giving up
one’s chair, waiting to eat until after everyone is served, charming others
with “please” and “thank you”, rolling up one's sleeves to help push a car in
need of assistance, and all other chivalrous acts were embraced and pursued for
the general sake of others. Now,
however, manners have been marginalized to decrepit lists of do’s and
don’ts.
Instead
of seeing manners as rule oriented, they should be viewed as a human
privilege. We get to be kind to others, and showcase polite behavior for the
betterment of humanity. We get to wave someone over into our lane
during rush hour. We get to practice acts of selflessness,
giving back (whether or not deserved) to others. We get to
sacrifice our time, our resources, and our comfort. I have never regretted giving up a chair, even if that means
I’m uncomfortably sitting on the floor.
Nor have I ever regretted getting a little sweaty to help someone in
need. The fact is, we are
inherently blessed by blessing others.
We receive the gift of satisfaction by giving to others. Ultimately, manners are a way for men
to re-define the nature of their environment, creating a tone that is both
sophisticated and kind.
Advice: Look
for opportunities to showcase kindness to humanity. Give the gifts of your time, your resources, and your
comfort. Do not be content in
mediocrity: instead, embrace excellence.
Define excellence as the active pursuit of bettering the world. This pursuit of good manners is active,
and requires a keen eye, but the results are satisfying for all parties
involved.
