How To Be a Decent Human Being

Seems pretty simple right? Well I have at least 20 experiences to say otherwise. With all the chaos going on in the world today it’s as if people kind of lost what it means to be a nice person (or maybe they are being that way on purpose?). Either way, this post is a refresher for everyone. Even I have days where I forget how simple acts of kindness can go a long way. If you are reading this thinking “these are stupid, no one cares,” well then you might as well put yourself in the bad egg category.

Listen

Simple enough to do yet we forget about this little factor. As much as we want to be heard, well, so do other people. You don’t know the effect you could have on someone’s day just by taking a few minutes to listen.

Patience

That car in front of you going 20 below the speed limit? Yes, that is incredibly infuriating and makes you feel like you are about to explode. I’ll let you in on a little secret, though; you are only hurting yourself when you let small things like this irritate you. They are definitely not worried about your feelings at that moment (obviously, otherwise they would speed up). Take a couple deep breaths in these situations and remember that patience can really be a virtue.

Stop Yelling

Ever been in an argument where you start raising your voice? It’s as if raising our voice somehow makes the other person listen and understand what you are saying. Unless you found that one exception, usually this doesn’t end well. As much as you want to scream and shout in certain situations, remember patience! Maybe take a couple minutes to collect yourself and, after listening (wow, these all go together) talk to them in a calm tone. People are much more willing to hear you out when you’re not popping a vein in your forehead.

Use Your Manners

I was on vacation several years ago and I remember going to a tourist attraction with my boyfriend. We gave smiles and said our ‘thank you’ to all the workers. At a certain point we noticed that we were the ONLY people doing this. We also noticed that every time we said ‘thank you’ it would make the other person smile a little bit more.

Somewhere between childhood and adulthood we forget this small but extremely useful step in humanity. We all want to be acknowledged! Next time someone opens a door for you or is, I don’t know, being kind, don’t forget your manners. They can go a long way.

Respect

Aretha Franklin wasn’t singing just to hear herself. There are moments in life where we become a little cynical. Well I’m not getting respect, so why should I give it? That’s not really the point of respect. Sometimes we don’t always get what we give; that doesn’t mean we should turn into those people. I would much rather be the person who was respectful then sit in bed remembering the time I was rude simply because I was too busy or because the other person was impolite. Life’s too short for that kind of negative thinking.

If You Don’t Have Anything Nice To Say…

Then don’t say it! Period; end of story; close the damn book. In this day and age it is so easy to go onto the internet and tear other people down. You don’t like what you just read or watched? Then move on. You’re not changing the world by telling (or posting) a nasty comment; you’re just being a jerk. If you are really that unfulfilled in life that you need to tear others down then maybe you should think about working on yourself…just saying.

Pay It Forward

Not only was it a great movie but it’s also a great life lesson. We get so self-absorbed sometimes that we forget that there are billions of other people in the world struggling just like us. I find it so rewarding to help someone out. Giving feels so much better than receiving in my opinion. Pay for the coffee of that stranger behind you just because. Hold the door for that group of people. Bake your neighbors some sweet treats. I promise; that look on their face is more priceless than anything you can buy.

Overall, just think before you speak and remember to treat others the way you want to be treated. We all are walking through this world trying to find our balance. If we remember to stop and have a caring heart this world might just be a better place for all of us to live. Crazy! I know; something so simple can really make a huge impact. Just remember: you are all unique and absolutely beautiful!