Three

Social Etiquettes.


Napoleon and I had company on our walk today. My lovely 19 year old cousin.
As we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge we were sharing a few summer experiences when we both came across a couple stories that had a common ground: a couple of friends and people we know/have encountered have 0 social graces, etiquettes, manners whatever you want to call it. We wondered if it's because a-they just didn't know or b-they're too selfish?


With growing technology as means of communication the "social etiquette rules" are changing frequently. But still there should be some basic principles and common grounds.


Here's a few that came to mind and to conversation.


Hitching a ride. So a friend offers to be driver for the day. Great! Or a friend offers you a ride home (that's semi out of the way) just so you don't have to wait around. Even better! :Enter social etiquette: EVEN though they offered, you should maybe offer to return the favor another day, grab them their favorite coffee/tea/juice/drink, or offer a couple of dollars as a sign of appreciation.


Attending a party/get together/hang out.  So you get invited. Whether it's just a social hang out, a dinner party, a birthday party...whatever it is, you are a guest attending some sort of thing, fancy or not, one should never show up empty handed. EVEN if the host says, "no just bring yourself"...ALWAYS bring a bottle of wine, desserts, flowers, what have you. Just don't show up empty handed. 


Staying as an Overnight Guest. Yay! Another invitation and this time it's a sleepover! Really, try not to forget a towel, a toothbrush etc. Although if the host is prepared they will have extras for you to use. Hosting is fun but there's a lot of work that goes into it, especially hosting an over nighter. They have to clean the sheets/towels, the place/room and prepare meals. Make sure you try to bring as much of what you can. And always say thank you at the end, even better, sending them a thank you, or taking them out as a thank you. Showing your appreciation goes a long way. 
Now within this there's a lot a.b.c. like A- when using the bathroom and it's not yours, please spray/open windows and don't go crazy with the toilet paper. But really, no need to get into this right now. 


Greeting/Leaving.   When you enter a house, a party, an event anything and you leave...Make sure you said Hello to everyone and Good-bye. Not to mention a couple of "thank-yous" to the right people. 
ie. My brother's friends actually saying hello, good-bye, and thank you for having us/cooking for us to the parental unit. IF 19 year old boys can do it...really...anyone should. 


Texting/Phone Calls/Facebook . I know it's super hard to be separated from your phone. But really, there are occasions where you should not be on it. Weddings. Wedding receptions. Dinner with friends and family. GENERALLY when you are out and about with someone other than yourself. A text message can wait, so can a phone call (unless of course they call 100x it must be an emergency) and of course facebook can wait... oie :rolls eyes:. You want to be spending time and living in the moment with whoever you are with, not being engrossed in a super cool object. 
I will admit, that I have been a guilty of this every now and then. But never over family dinner. Geeze my parents would take my food away!. But there have been times, that I have been out with a friend ie. getting a mani/pedi and respond to a text or what not. However, I make it an effort to never check my phone or respond more than 3x. 


Umbrellas/Items/Bags. Really. Umbrellas are no joke and neither are those rollie suitcases. When you are carrying them around...PLEASE be way more aware that you have those objects with you. Watch out for people's feet and other body parts that can injured. I cannot count how many times my feet has seen the wheels of a suitcase because some F*** was in a hurry and most definitely used that as a weapon. Look I get it. I live in the city too. We all seem to have to some place to go in a hurry, but I am still mindful that I'm around HUMANS. 




Sneezing/Coughing.  As basic as this sounds. Please turn away, cover your mouth when you have to sneeze or cough. Don't forget to say "excuse me". And if you covered your nose/mouth with your hand. Please don't use that hand to shake hands with someone! Ickkkkkk


That's all that we came up with, encountered. However, as I write this the more come to mind. There's a ton out there.
Most of these are common sense (yes, to me, it's common sense) or my mom taught me. So when people don't display them, my forehead wrinkles and in my brain there's a question mark. True, some haven't been taught, but what about common sense? OR just wanting to show thanks and appreciation to someone you care for, who, put in effort?


Manners-are a sign of respect and appreciation. And I think having social graces goes a long way. Parents will want you over more, friends (those who are good and practice the same social graces) won't forget, and in general because people have seem to have forgotten how to act or don't know how...You leave a better impression and at the end of the day getting invited over and over again!! You did something thoughtful. Thoughtful acts never go un-noticed.