Aging with Grace

Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.

Emily Post

I am, constantly, amazed at the lack of civility in today’s world. Much of society acts as though they were raised by wild animals. If we were taught manners, somewhere along the way, we have decided it is too much trouble to care carry them out. Stop your car at the crosswalk when someone is walking across. Respond when someone speaks to you. Hold the door for the person behind you. It isn’t difficult to have some basic consideration for others.

I realize we have leaders who are about as far removed from good manners as one could possibly get and that may contribute to  the feeling of apathy toward civility we’re experiencing. Yes, they are terrible role models!  I don’t think that lets us off the hook. Instead of responding to the lowest common denominator, maybe we need to put forward those with a higher standard. We can start by setting a better example ourselves. There are many of all faiths, races, ethnicities, and even political parties who are good role models. Unfortunately, they are not the people we hear about. People in the spotlight leave. Mores change. I still believe in the basic good of our society.