The other day I made my usual stop at the grocery store before heading home. As I was walking down an aisle, trying to find one of the items on my list, I had to walk in front of an elderly lady who was looking for something on the shelf. As I passed in front of her I said, “Excuse me, please.” As I was walking away I heard, “Sir, thank you for being so polite. Not many people do what you just did.” I turned around and told her she was very welcome.
I know I sound loud and obnoxious on the radio, but to be honest, that’s my shtick. I mean, I am like that, but I was also raised with manners.
My parents raised us children to always say please and thank you. They taught us to be courteous to strangers. They taught us to acknowledge people with a simple good morning, good afternoon, or good evening. In short, they simply taught us to be nice to people. Mind you, there are always those people that I don’t abide by those rules for, and that’s by choice. That’s not very big of me, but there are people out there that simply don’t deserve my common courtesy.
I always get annoyed by those who can’t say good morning or throw in a please or thank you when they’re being waited on. I’ve had people who walk in front of me when I’m looking at something on a shopping aisle who don’t excuse themselves and I always think to myself, “How rude.”
If I ask you for something I will always say please. When I receive what I’m asking for I will always say thank you.
It’s a shame that common courtesy really isn’t that common.
