As the new year is here, I’m looking at the world around me. I’m asking the world …including myself… to take a look at our behavior and how it affects those around us.
I have made a short list of little things we might do to make life more enjoyable for all of us! I admit I am guilty of a few of these behaviors myself.
While we are on still on this subject:
You had to have touched something in there. If I had a nickel every time I saw a man leave a stall and head right out the door…
Let’s wash our hands EVERY time we use the restroom. Germs spread disease!
-Because of and in spite of the fact that I am gay, I believe that all homo, bi, metro, hetero and lumber-sexuals (Google it, it’s real) should be respected, as should the people who make little or no effort in their appearance.
Let’s stop staring, mouths agape, at people who are different from ourselves.
-Slow your roll, folks! Why do people race to stop lights, purposely avoiding the eyes of people trying to enter the lane of traffic?
Let’s slow down and stop to let people into the lane…with a smile.
While we are going on this subject:
A smile, a wave or a nod in the direction of the person letting you into a lane will not cost you anything but the spreading of joy! Let’s be kind and use our manners toward those who have offered us kindness.
-Your parents had at least one and you were one once too (from the looks of things, possibly an obnoxious one).
Let’s stop rolling our eyes at other people with publicly misbehaving children. Sometimes a tantrum is just a tantrum. It isn’t necessarily flawed parenting.
-3 plus 3 does not equal 5. What happens to all the money for roads and schools?
Let’s stop complaining and start holding our government accountable! The U.S should have an amazing public school system and we do not. Why is this? And more importantly, why are we okay with this?
-A second of kindness is worth a day of delight.
Let’s hold the door for others (especially, but not limited to strollers and wheelchairs!) and offer a hand when someone looks burdened by packages or the like.
While we are going on this subject:
Treating other people like they are indentured servants may only get us spit in our soup.
Let’s treat restaurant service and everyone in the service industry like we would if it were our Mom or spouse doing it.
-Why are we complaining about our $10 coffee or our Mercedes being in the shop again…when the world has such bigger problems?
Let’s have compassion for the world at large. Prioritize our thoughts before we share a “princess problem.”
-Don’t be perturbed if someone is rude to us. And please, don’t return it with further rudeness!
Let’s treat others with kindness. Be nice to people who appear stressed out. Sometimes it’s just a matter of a bad day or perhaps they were treated poorly by someone else. Remember others are carrying a load we know nothing about.
-What’s with the grumpy faces? Do we realize we are creating lines all over our faces?
Let’s smile at each other more! Outside of a small line on our faces that shows we are happy, caring people, this costs nothing.
Disclaimer: It doesn’t have to be a creepy smile or an I-want-to-sleep-with-you smile, but a Hey-have-a-nice-day smile! Some of us may need to work on this.
And lastly…
-It’s not selfish to allow ourselves to be better people. Flight attendants remind us to put the mask on our own face first, so we are better able to care for our children. Let’s do something nice for ourselves once in a while. If we feel good, we’re more likely to do good.
Happy New Year, and remember to put our smiley face on first!