First a quote: “”Civility costs nothing and buys everything.” – Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
I woke up feeling a tad bit “cranky” this morning after a 3:00 am wakeup alarm and a mad dash to the airport for an international flight. I found myself rationalizing my less than pleasant demeanor, thinking to myself, “Who wouldn’t be a bit crabby on less than 4 hours of sleep and a 5:00 am flight?”
Now, after the first leg of my journey, several cups of Java, and fully awake, I have time for one of my favorite airport pastimes; people watching. It didn’t take me long to wonder about my “pre-coffee exchanges” with other human beings earlier in my day. While I doubt, I was outwardly rude to anyone, I’m also confident I wasn’t the warm and caring person I aspire to be. For sure, I wasn’t radiating positive energy or warm friendly smiles. I’m guessing my face said what I was thinking and feeling on the inside, and that wasn’t warm and friendly.
I don’t know about you, but I’m personally concerned by the lack of civility which seems so commonplace in our world today. I’m not just referring to our country’s pollical environment. I’m talking about our daily, and perhaps insignificant, exchanges between family, friends, coworkers, and the strangers we come in contact with as we go about our lives. Unfortunately, examples of this incivility are everywhere.
A table of four people sat next to me for breakfast this morning. Four adults, all were served, and ate, an entire breakfast complete with coffee and water refills. It appeared they enjoyed their meals; no complaints, no leftovers. How four adults can be served an entire meal and not one of them offer one single “please or thank you” is beyond me. Four people and not one single word of friendliness, kindness or gratitude towards the person serving their meal.
While I know nothing about that server, or her life, I do know she had a wonderfully warm smile, and was working hard to serve others. While I can’t know for certain of course, I suspect her smile masked her life realities, difficulties, concerns, problems, dreams, hopes and desires. She may have even had a 3:00 am wakeup call and less than four hours of sleep.
So, after leaving a “more generous than normal tip” and scribbling a thank you note on my credit card receipt, I’m heading towards my gate with a smile on my face. My personal goal, is to see if I can get six people to give me a return smile before boarding my flight.
How many smiles will you help create today? Together, we can all create a more civil world.
Let’s start by creating positive ripples where we live, work and play. Let’s start by having a positive impact on everyone we come in contact with today. Together, we can make our world a friendly, more kind place in which we all live.
Click here to read: “What Positive Ripples Will You Create Today?”
How will you live and lead differently, or better, this week?
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Have a great week! All the best! Do your best! Give your best! Be your best!
Bryan Yager
208.376.1701
“Expanding Your Capacity for Success”
Bonus Quotes:
- “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” – Mark Twain
- “Civilization will cease without civility.” – Helen Hayes
- “Civility does not mean the mere outward gentleness of speech cultivated for the occasion, but an inborn gentleness and desire to do the opponent good.” – Mohandas Gandhi
