Have you ever thought how courtesy is kindness in action? I was reading a snippet from Michael Josephson’s Character Counts site and came across this short story which grabbed my attention:
As a society we have become almost obsessed with identifying and asserting our rights – to think, say, and do what we want. That’s not surprising, given the history of our country and the prominent role the Constitution and Bill of Rights have played in shaping our culture.
We have a right to be unkind, thoughtless, and disrespectful – but it isn’t right. ?Ralph Waldo Emerson pointed out, “Life is short but there is always time for courtesy.”
The idea is to act in ways that make the people we are dealing with feel valued. Courtesy is kindness in action.
It starts with good manners – saying please, thank you, and excuse me. But real courtesy involves more thoughtful ways of showing respect. Courtesy is a form of kindness.? It matters how we address people and how we greet them, as well as how we eat, talk, and cough in their presence.
Courtesy involves remembering important occasions, buying thoughtful gifts, and sending personal thank-you notes.
Making people feel important is part of courtesy, so it’s important to remember that whether or not people remember what we say or do, they do remember how we made them feel.
Make eye contact, truly listen, and show genuine interest in the lives of others by asking them questions and remembering their answers. A good start is to keep in mind H. Jackson Brown’s insight: “Everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something.”
Always be kinder than necessary because you can never be too kind.
This excerpt made me think about how we truly treat others. Everything we do even coughing and sneezing or how we eat in front of others reflects our treatment of them. Acts of kindness are the smallest gestures.
Now I’m guilty of thoughtlessness but considering it is disrespectful to others, it makes me want to cringe when I think of the times that I have forgotten events. There’s no point in beating myself up but rather make it better by tattooing dates on my forehead so I don’t forget them! Just kidding.
I’d like any help you might offer as to how to remember events. Diaries don’t work for me. I do add appointments in my mobile phone to remind me like dentist and doctor appointments but why does the other stuff go right out of my head? Does this happen to you to? Always remember that courtesy is kindness in action.
I could not be more agree with you. People in these days believe that being unkind, makes them more independent in the eyes of other. In my opinion, being kind is important because people will see you as someone trusty they can speak with. I also believe that if you are kind with people, they will be kind with you . On the other hand we should always keep a balance: not to good not to bad. I agree that courtesy is kindness in action.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by Daniel
Thanks for that so powerful an simple. I memories my week up to a month easily without a diary using the peg and journey method. Let me know if you need help and I will write out what i do. Cheers Toni
Hi Toni, I’m interested in your peg and journey method so it would be great if you did come back and let me know. If it’s quite long, feel free to use the Contact page if you think that’s more appropriate @ http://angesbiz.com/contact-me/
Thanks
I’m not arguing about it, it’s clear that it is important what you wrote here. But – “to evaluate yourself”! It seems to me a very important point, even more than the other evaluate. Because, if you do not appreciate yourself enough, where you will have the power to given to others?
I fancy myself a kind and polite person unless I am given a reason not to be. Sometimes people have accused me of being too nice which I thought was a strange thing to say.
I would prefer to interact with each other respectfully as opposed to carelessly.
Hi,
I am from NJ but moved to a country where the concept of common courtesy just does not exist. I have held a door for the elderly with walkers and have seen people push passed. people here will wait right in front of elevator doors and will push you as you try and get out so they can get in first, and the concept of a line here is we are all first if you don’t assert yourself no one will ever pay any attention to you.