The Old-Time Common Courtesy has become a dinosaur. Road Rage rules in lieu of being courteous and letting someone in when they put on a turn signal.

How many times have you seen the extra effort of someone, male or female, holding a door open so others can pass through, elderly, handicapped, or not? Not very often, I am sure. If it does happen, it is marked in your memory because it is the exception instead of the rule.

Gentle caring and respect, which you freely give to friends and acquaintances, is frequently denied to your mate, your life’s companion. When was the last time you said, “Please,” or “Thank you?” It does not matter if it is for holding a door open or paying for a meal, do you hear this from your mate as well?

Rough places in a marriage can be made a lot smoother with common courtesy. “My way or the highway!” has become a descriptive phrase for male and female alike. Since when did it become a power struggle?

Marriages, as well as friendships, need kindness, cooperation, and basic respect. Yet in this day, it seems that the “ME” attitude reigns a lot. The men try to please their ladies, and the ladies do the same. Yet it is only a surface thing in lieu of heart to heart. A man buys his lady flowers or jewelry to get out of the dog house. A woman cooks his favorite meal or attempts to please him to resolve a conflict. The real issue here is lack of good communication.

You have to ask yourself: “If I love this person (be it friend or mate), how do I treat them? Is common courtesy an element present in every moment, or rarely? How does this person respond? Do I need to change my acts of appreciation so that he/she knows how much I care?” In short, look at your communication skills.

This can hold true for on-the-job situations as well. Common courtesy is vital to good relations with anyone, whether it is a salesclerk who is waiting on you, someone does an ARK (Act of Random Kindness) for you, or even someone who is a “thorn in your side.” After all, the only person you can control is yourself. You need to ask yourself, “What am  I thinking?” Are you responding to a negative in a situation? Is it in retaliation for some slight, or is it a thoughtful word or deed? “Am I ACTING or REACTING?”

Dr. Wayne Dyer states: “You cannot give away what you don’t have inside. If you squeeze an orange, you expect to get orange juice. If you are squeezed, you may give away only that which you contemplate about, positive or negative.”

If you ponder that, ask yourself, “What am I expressing?” It is, after all, your choice.

“What you think about, you bring about!” Always!!!!!

God’s blessings on your journey!