In my never-ending- and not always terribly successful- quest to make this world a better place, I'm going to offer up something a wee bit different this morning.
I spend a lot of time observing people, and one of the things that always puts a smile on my face is when people are kind to one another reason- if for no other reason than they can. A smile, a gesture, or something as simple as letting someone merge into rush-hour traffic in front of you may seem like a small thing, but it's the small things that make life just a little bit nicer. This can be especially true on a Friday when we're all Hell-bent to get to the weekend.
This list originally appeared in The Washington Post and later in The Oregonian. I've not been able to find a link to either article, so as a public service to my readers, I'm recreating it here. You may not be able to handle all 25 rules (and if you can, you're probably just this side of sainthood), but even if you can only see your way clear to live by a few, your world will still be a better place.
- Pay attention.
- Acknowledge others.
- Think the best.
- Listen.
- Be inclusive.
- Speak kindly.
- Don't speak ill.
- Accept and give praise.
- Respect even a subtle "no".
- Respect others' opinions.
- Mind your body.
- Be agreeable.
- Keep it down (and rediscover silence).
- Respect other people's time.
- Respect other people's space.
- Apologize earnestly.
- Assert yourself.
- Avoid personal questions.
- Care for your guests.
- Be a considerate guest.
- Think twice before asking for favors.
- Refrain from idle complaints.
- Accept and give constructive criticism.
- Respect the environment and be gentle to animals.
- Don't shift responsibility and blame.
I hope this helps, even if only it's tinkering around the margins. Every little bit helps, no?
If you need me today, I'll be off trying to focus on rules 3, 6, 8, 17, and 23. That should get my day off to a good start. I'm also going to try and follow "unofficial" rule #26: go though your day with a smile on your face- people will think you know something they don't. Or they'll be jealous because they'll think you just got laid. (Ah, if only....)
Happy Friday, y'all.... ;-)
