CEBU, Philippines — As a kid, you surely have ignored your parents, rolled your eyes at them and thrown up your arms in protest as you insist that the world has changed and that manners, etiquette and thank- you notes all belong to a bygone era. You are young – and you are wrong. The way people nowadays communicate has transformed and, all the more because of that, gracious behavior, the kind that shows consideration and thoughtfulness towards others is very important.
So, put your phones down, close your laptops and get off Snapchat while parents offer you a few reminders:
1. Manners suggest gratitude rather than entitlement. The rap on your generation is pretty bad, don’t prove your parents right. You can still be lazy and undirected, you can live in our basements and forestall adulthood, but if you appear gracious and grateful, much will be forgiven.
2. Manners are even more important in a world that is neglecting them. Standing out from the crowd is a good thing. Making eye contact, shaking hands, giving proper deference, offering assistance and putting your phone away at the dinner table are still appreciated, if sometimes neglected, habits.
3. You have seconds to make a good impression. We meet hundreds or thousands of people in our lives, though most of those meetings are brief and superficial. A decent haircut, clean face, genuine smile and good manners will all be noticed. Don’t rely on your parents to remind you to wash your face.
4. Manners still reflect on your family and what your parents and teachers taught you. Don’t make them look bad.
5. Manners may have changed but people haven’t, and being appreciated will never go out of style. I have yet to meet a single person of either gender, from any nation, of any age who does not like to be appreciated. You may meet someone who breaks this rule, but until then, remember your manners and thank people.
6. Someday, somewhere you may want something from someone. Manners and proper etiquette are like goodwill in the bank when you go to make a withdrawal. Wanting something in return is not a reason to use good manners, but sometime in life you may need to call on another’s kindness and it will help if you have been polite.
7. A great many adults have done some pretty wonderful things for you. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and teachers have all given of themselves to improve your life. Do not disrespect them by failing to use good manners.
8. In your early childhood you were taught at school to show adults respect, to answer questions either “yes, please” or “no, thank you” and to send handwritten thank-you notes. There is no excuse for forgetting all that your teachers taught you.
9. Manners are even more important in a world where relationships may never involve eye contact. We meet people online or by email every day. They will never see our faces or hear our voices. Our words will need to say who we are; choose them wisely.
10. Manners are something that people will remember about you, even if they don’t remember what they remember. Manners make an impression and while someone may not recall why they thought well (or badly) of you, it may have been your courtesy. Don’t take a risk, remember what you have been taught. (www.scarymommy.com)
By Mary Dell Harrington and Lisa Heffernan