Please, read. Thank you.

What has happened to the existence of manners?  I feel like every day I see something (or a lack of something) that stops me in my tracks.  I didn't grow up in a severly strict home, however, we had basic ground rules that we all had to follow.  Every adult had to be addressed as Mr. or Mrs.  We had to be home in time for dinner every night.  I had to say "Yes, please" and "No, thank you."  It's amazing to me that little things like this are no longer emphasized - or at least they don't appear to be.

Just the other day I was walking into work at the same time as some one else.  I was maybe 20 feet behind them.  I know they saw me in the reflection of the glass doors and I swear they even sped up once they saw how close I really was.  But they opened the door to the building, and instead of waiting the extra 3 seconds for me to get to the doors, they continue walking and let it slam behind them.  I felt like shouting, once I got into the building, Good Morning, but I held it together, and thought that the next time, I will show them how it's done.

And then there are the people who don't say "Thank You" after you just held the door for them and their posse.  How can you see someone standing there, obviously holding the door for you, and not even acknowledge them?  Now I don't hold the door for the "thank you;" I do it because it is the right thing to do.  But eventually, after enough times of being separated from your group because you held the door for an ungrateful human being, I am going to stop being so nice.  I threaten that now, but there is no way I will actually be able to not hold a door for someone.

Along the lack-of-thank-yous line, how about when you let someone go in front of you when you are driving, and they don't so much as give you a head nod?  I am in a rush too.  I am wanting to get home after an insanely long day at the office too, but I take a moment, and I let your stupid car go in front of me.  The least you could do is smile at me!!

Another one of my pet-peeves is eye contact!  When you are talking to someone, look at them.  I know that is a weird concept that may not resonate with you, but look me in my eyes if we are having a discussion.  Don't scan my outfit.  Don't focus on the one piece of hair that might be out of place.  Don't check out my rack (yeah, right).  Look me in the whites of my eyes and speak.  It's not hard.  It's polite.

I don't know if parents are just not teaching their children manners anymore, or if they are just being lost over time.  It's hard to tell who is really at fault here, but I guess it's safe to say that once you are old enough to start making those decisions, then the responsibility inherently relies on you.  All of the examples that were discussed above were instances that took place with adults; grown-ass adults.  Just because your parents didn't teach you to say Thank You, doesn't mean hours of Barney and Sesame Street didn't either.  At some point you have to take responsibility and ownership of your own actions.  If you don't know how to be a nice, respectful citizen, then I suggest you observe others who are and take notes.  A little bit of common sense, goes a long way.  Thank you for reading.