Manners Matter, Thank You Very Much

A wide-eyed, young child stares with gaping mouth at the tantilizing cookie jar he has spotted atop the counter. He strives to attain a cookie by calling out to his mother, "Cewkee! Coooookie!" His mother, in an effort to shape her son into a respectable young man, asks, "What's the magic word?" A simple reply of, "Please", allows the boy to attain the delicious snickerdoodle. The world proves to be a very complex and incomprehensible place, but one thing does not change--the power a quality set of manners has to improve one's quality of life and help them reach their goals. Although the young boy in this story may seem extremely juvenile, he already holds an important tool to a successful life that many teens and adults lack.

Being polite can be overwhelming to some people. It is easy to come off too strong and be seen as a "suck up" or "try hard". However, taking into consideration the utter lack of respect that many people these days exhibit, I could hardly forsee this being a problem for a large portion of the population. No one likes to feel disrespected. Manners are a simple way to show that you take others into consideration with every action that you make. Some attest to the fact that they are too busy or preoccupied to bother with treating others right. Although this may be somewhat true, the benefits from a simple "Please" or "Thank You" can be resounding.

One's dispostion is a mirror of who they are inside. Being polite exudes an image to others of a happy, helpful, pleasant person. People like to be around someone who they feel is considerate and optimistic. Who likes when they are bumped into in the hallway and the person continues walking without a single apologetic utterance? That's right, no one. Simply put, persons who make the extra effort to be polite are rewarded with more people who enjoy their company. Who doesn't like to be liked?

Manners are something that can be directly linked with professional and academic success. At one point in our lives, we will all be faced with some form of interview. Whether it is for enrolling in a university, getting an important business job, or meeting for any other purpose, manners will play a deciding role in the outcome of the interview. Manners do not stop their influence in business/academic careers there. The decision to fire, keep, or promote an employee may not be solely based on performance but also the impression that the employee's manners have left on his or her manager.

Being courteous is not rocket science. It does not require any loathesome or strenuous activity. Good manners are attained through habitual activity. A modern-day set of manners does not require ladies to courtsie and gentlemen to bow every time they meet. That level of etiquette is a bit outdated. The next time you enter a building, hold the door for anyone coming in behind you. This act of courtesy might take up to a whopping five seconds out of your day, and who knows, perhaps you might actually have to watch someone smile at you. Many people do not realize the plethora of opportunities to be polite they are presented with each day. A lack of manners stems from complacency and slothfulness. It isn't hard to be polite.

Having good manners, as it turns out, does not require any substantial amount of work. It is beneficial to your social and academic/business life. Manners are a must have for successful relationships and a high quality of living. It seems that every time one says "Thank You", the world somehow says "Thank You" right back.