It is somewhat unnerving to swing by this blog and observe that folks reading it are from far away lands. I think since I was able to talk one of my most used questions was "Why?". That is where the mind goes when I note these happenings.
Today is a graduation day out of about six that it takes to accomplish spring school completion for high school seniors in our area. Not only that but it is also the day of the memorial service in a city in this state for a poet and writer who passed away the latter part of last month. This is the second service in this area being offered after her passing. I have never been one who had an appreciation for either her poetry or her writings. Reading the accolades being printed in the press spurred my interest as to whether I am the odd ball out with my lack of appreciation. Surprisingly, or maybe not so much, my searching leads me to believe that there are others who have had trouble "getting into" writings whose first person language was not reflective of the character or writing of stories without a plot. I have personal thoughts of the rationale for style but I will keep them personal for a while longer. I am just always amazed at human nature and its lack of sincerity at given times. But, then again, perhaps there continues to be a reason why appreciation escapes me in this case.
More later.....
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Friday, June 6, 2014
How Are Your Manners?
This is the message given with the Tabernacle Choir Broadcast, June 2014. I take no credit here and give credit where it is due.
"The Root of Good Manners"
Actor John Rhys-Davies sometimes speaks to young people about overcoming shyness. He says that it is quite natural to feel shy, to be uncomfortable in a room of strangers. His advice? "Turn it the other way around and think, 'I'm walking into a room full of very shy people, and my job is to make them feel at ease and comfortable in their situation.' That is really the root of good manners: making the people around you feel comfortable."1
Some people are so skilled at making others feel comfortable. They're genuinely interested in others; they're kind and thoughtful; they're easy to be around. Instead of focusing on themselves, they choose to be considerate and responsive, and they seem to take sincere joy in making people happy.
It's easy to assume that some people are just naturally outgoing-that it comes easily to them-and the rest of us simply aren't that way. But the fact is that with a little effort and practice, anyone can choose to be open, loving, and warm. That might mean we attentively listen, or we think, "What can I learn from this person?" For others, it might mean we speak up a little more or make the effort to meet someone new.
No matter whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, you can learn to put others at ease. A young woman who left friends and family to attend college discovered this simple truth. When she began to extend herself, she found that more often than not, people welcomed her outreach. They, too, wanted a friend. They began to feel comfortable around her, and she made new friends wherever she went. She found that by making simple introductions and finding out about others, she could help people relax in her company and enjoy being around her.
The skill of good manners is not beyond anyone's reach-at its roots, it's simply a matter of forgetting ourselves and helping others feel comfortable.
"The Root of Good Manners"
Actor John Rhys-Davies sometimes speaks to young people about overcoming shyness. He says that it is quite natural to feel shy, to be uncomfortable in a room of strangers. His advice? "Turn it the other way around and think, 'I'm walking into a room full of very shy people, and my job is to make them feel at ease and comfortable in their situation.' That is really the root of good manners: making the people around you feel comfortable."1
Some people are so skilled at making others feel comfortable. They're genuinely interested in others; they're kind and thoughtful; they're easy to be around. Instead of focusing on themselves, they choose to be considerate and responsive, and they seem to take sincere joy in making people happy.
It's easy to assume that some people are just naturally outgoing-that it comes easily to them-and the rest of us simply aren't that way. But the fact is that with a little effort and practice, anyone can choose to be open, loving, and warm. That might mean we attentively listen, or we think, "What can I learn from this person?" For others, it might mean we speak up a little more or make the effort to meet someone new.
No matter whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, you can learn to put others at ease. A young woman who left friends and family to attend college discovered this simple truth. When she began to extend herself, she found that more often than not, people welcomed her outreach. They, too, wanted a friend. They began to feel comfortable around her, and she made new friends wherever she went. She found that by making simple introductions and finding out about others, she could help people relax in her company and enjoy being around her.
The skill of good manners is not beyond anyone's reach-at its roots, it's simply a matter of forgetting ourselves and helping others feel comfortable.
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