Perhaps it's the British in me, or maybe it's the British in me, but I have to wonder what has happened to manners lately. There's nothing that irritates me more than people not saying "please" or "thank you" or someone chewing with their mouth open - but that one's for another time.
I've joined a few garage sale type groups on Facebook, where people are selling things for cheap and sometimes even giving things away. Raised to be polite and grateful, I make a conscious effort to say "please" and I have a physical reaction when I see people say things like "I'll take it." or "Me". Where's the "I'd love this!" or the "Me please!" You may be scratching your head, thinking "What's wrong with her that she thinks that's rude?"
Let me retrace my steps and begin with the fact that "Sure" was a four letter word at my parent's house. Sure translated to I guess, if I have to, or if you really need me to. When my Mum asked the missionaries (usually American - I'm just saying) whether they'd like dessert, a response of "sure" literally made my mother wince and ask them again, yes or no. This was the way I was raised, but when you really think about it, you do or you do not. There is no sure.
I've joined a few garage sale type groups on Facebook, where people are selling things for cheap and sometimes even giving things away. Raised to be polite and grateful, I make a conscious effort to say "please" and I have a physical reaction when I see people say things like "I'll take it." or "Me". Where's the "I'd love this!" or the "Me please!" You may be scratching your head, thinking "What's wrong with her that she thinks that's rude?"
Let me retrace my steps and begin with the fact that "Sure" was a four letter word at my parent's house. Sure translated to I guess, if I have to, or if you really need me to. When my Mum asked the missionaries (usually American - I'm just saying) whether they'd like dessert, a response of "sure" literally made my mother wince and ask them again, yes or no. This was the way I was raised, but when you really think about it, you do or you do not. There is no sure.
The same thing applies when someone is offering you something for free. You should be enthusiastic and you should be grateful. I've had the good fortune of scoring a child's shopping cart, a dress-up trunk, nursing pads and baby food among other things, for free. And have I written a thank you card each time? You bet I have. (Hi Mum! I listened!) And have they been surprised each time? Why yes, they have. (One texted me that it was so rare to have received a thank you note and the other posted a picture of the card on her listing.) And isn't that a shame? Shouldn't that be the norm?
I don't claim to be perfect and I know I could do better at expressing gratitude to my family for the things they do for me. I know I could have been more on the ball with thank yous at our wedding and I apologize for any festering feelings out there if I neglected to thank you sufficiently, but I was young and in love. I'm still in love, but I'm older (fatter) and wiser and have tried to be better at baby showers and holidays and will continue to strive to be a more grateful person.
I will get off my soapbox now, but I hope that we can be a little more appreciative and show a little more gratitude to others that are showing kindness to us. And that we say "Yes, please" or "No, thank you" instead of S*#@.
1 pennies for your thoughts:
I loved this. I think I can be more grateful in little things. I try to express it, but I can always express it more.
P.S. Your "sure" thing intrigued me. No, really, intrigued me. I went and looked up the definition. And I like what I found:
sure [shoor, shur] Show IPA
adjective, sur·er, sur·est.
1.
free from doubt as to the reliability, character, action, etc., of something: to be sure of one's data.
2.
confident, as of something expected: sure of success.
3.
convinced, fully persuaded, or positive: to be sure of a person's guilt.
4.
assured or certain beyond question: a sure victory.
5.
worthy of confidence; reliable; stable: a sure messenger.
To me that sounds better than "I guess", although I think most of us DO use it as "I guess". From now on I am using it as CONFIDENT and WITHOUT DOUBT, especially when asked for dessert!!!!!!! :)
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