What's Wrong With This Picture?

"Goodness is the only investment that never fails." - Henry David Thoreau

Where has all the goodness gone? What happened to manners and common decency? What is WRONG with people today??

My kids are very polite. They hold doors for people ALL the time and seldom get a "thank you" or any form of acknowledgement. When that happens, I am quick to thank them for their kindness, often loud enough for the rude person to hear in hopes that it will jog their manner memory.

Yesterday at the grocery store, a lady in a wheelchair was trying to get something out of a freezer compartment. My oldest son quickly went over to help her, unprompted, and made sure she had everything she needed before he came back to me. I was extremely proud!! (She did thank him, by the way.) This is actually a common occurrence for him. He is very helpful to people in stores all the time. He also volunteers at our local hospital and is well respected among his co-workers.

My youngest son is very much the same! At Chick-Fil-A the other day, a teenager dropped something off his table, looked at it and decided to leave it on the floor. My seven-year-old went over, picked it up and handed it to him. His mother muttered an "Oh, thanks" and went on eating. He has also stopped to pick up items that other people knocked off the shelf at the store, and put them back on the shelf where they belong. It makes me PROUD to see them doing the right thing, making good choices and often others DO compliment us on their behavior.

I'm not saying my children are perfect angels by any means, they make mistakes just like the rest of us. We are raising young men who will grow into true gentlemen, teaching them to treat other people with respect, kindness, decency and courtesy. Why is that so difficult for some others?

There is a person who regularly emails me for assistance (in a somewhat professional setting). SO often I have responded at length, but I have never, not ONCE, received a reply. Not a quick, "thanks", not even acknowledging that she has received a response from me. When she sent out a blanket email to many of us with details of her personal issues I sent my condolences and advice when solicited. Again, no response. I did receive another blanket email where she thanked many other people by name for their assistance, care, concern, blah, blah, blah. I know that at that time she had a lot going on, so I dismissed it, but for it to happen SO often, it cannot be excused. I recently went out of my way for one of her requests and again got no response. (Another person thanked me for my help, so I know she is getting my replies.)

Grumpy store clerks, impatient drivers honking all the time, no one wants to let you out in traffic, people don't say "hello" anymore! They pass you and look at the floor. What happened to eye contact and general conversation?

Also, if you desire a polite response, ask in a polite manner. Treat people the way you want to be treated. It's a basic principle, people! If you are nasty to someone, you cannot expect them to be nice to you in return.

I will continue to invest in my future and my children's future. I will teach them to be nice to others, even the ones who are not nice to them. Lead by example! I hope and pray that they will continue to make good choices and I will praise them when they do. Smile at people, it's not difficult, it's free, and you'll be surprised at what a difference it makes! :o)