Manners

This is one of my favorite pictures from my honeymoon in Lincoln City, Oregon. I was so happy!

I got the nicest compliment the other day.

We went to get gas, and we overpaid by a few dollars (!!!). So I had to go back in to get my change. When I went in the lady behind the counter told me that I made her day with my smile. She aid that she had been having a crappy day before that and when I came in and smiled at her, she suddenly felt better and happier. I smiled the rest of the day.

Now, I have always been like this. “A smile means friendship to everyone?” Yeah, that's me. I just feel like it's polite. And I always try to be friendly. Especially to people who have the jobs that deal with people directly or even indirectly. Even on the phone I have a smile in my voice. I got a compliment from a coworker once that my smile brightened his day every time he saw me. I just thought that was the nicest thing anyone could ever say to me.

I know what it's like to be a customer service person, behind a cash register and on the phone. It's a pretty thankless job. People can be extremely mean, blaming you for something that has nothing to do with you. I know what it's like to have the nice people, who smile and thank you for helping them. “Have a nice day” aren't just words to me.

I was taught really great manners. My parents taught me please and thank you. And beyond that. I have had less patience with people as I get older, and I have grown to understand the frustration that the people on the other end. I still try my hardest to be nice, and smile. Sometimes, it works, sometimes, it doesn't.

After all the crap that I have had to deal with and go through, to me, it's not worth it to be rude to people. Or pick on them. I try to be constructive if I have to say something that is not so nice. I don't understand what makes people feel the need to be mean to other people, especially when they aren't thee to stick up for themselves. And why I must get into stupid, petty arguments with people who feels the need to knock me down for stupid things. I get told I am to nice. Especially by internet strangers. And then, I get ripped a new one. Ok, I just don't put up with it anymore. I used to, and try to fight back. There is no point, really. There are so many cliche's here that I could throw in, but I'll spare you. I have left more than one message/chat board because of this. I have better things to do with my time.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am no saint. I have my moments of saying something snarky to my husband, or one of my friends. But, I would never say something rude to someone or loud enough for them to hear in order to hurt their feelings or make myself feel more high and mighty. On fact, in my complaints that I have had at different jobs that I had, I am usually the loudest and people have told me that I should be a comedienne. I don't think I'm that funny, but weird things seem to happen to me, and I seem to meet strange people. I may attract them, but I revel in that weirdness. It gives me something to talk about later.

Anyway, I guess my point is, Be nice to people. Or at least show them the same respect that they show you. You never know what kind of day that person has had, and if you could make them smile, wouldn't that be great? If you could make just one person feel better by smiling at them or letting them know that you had been there? A perfect stranger? It does have a ripple effect. And you never know who's day you will make better just by laughing or smiling. Try it.