It’s easier for most of us to mind our manners when among friends, family, and co-workers, but what about when we’re out in public, surrounded by strangers? The fact that you will never again encounter most of the people you pass is no excuse to be rude, or even cold and indifferent—plus, you never know when your newest best friend will be the stranger you shared an elevator with last week.
Acknowledge and Smile
We have many opportunities to interact with the people around us. Whether it’s while at the mall, in line at the grocery store, or entering or leaving an office building, most people tend to pull into themselves, studiously avoiding acknowledging strangers. As a result, it’s easy to feel isolated, even in a throng of people.Rather than hoping everyone else changes their attitude, try an experiment. Instead of looking through those you pass as if they aren’t even there, make eye contact and smile. We bet you'll be pleasantly surprised with the response.
Mirror Image
Even those who dress for success every day at the office can be tempted to let grooming and outfit selection choices slide a bit on weekends and days off. This calls for the “act like Mom can see you” rule as you prepare to leave home.Dressing well is a form of self-care that subconsciously tells ourselves and others that we matter, shows respect to others, and also sets a good example. These rules apply even to situations where comfort tends to reign, such as flying.
Keep It Down
There’s no doubt it’s annoying to be forced to listen in on another person’s phone call simply due to proximity in a restaurant, airport terminal, or as you wait in line. With that in mind, make a point of not taking or making calls when doing so creates noise pollution for those around you.If a call comes in while you’re at a restaurant, let it go to voicemail; or if you must take it, ask the caller to hold on as you find a suitable place to talk. In more public places, such as at the mall or on a busy street, simply be courteous and lower your voice. This is especially important if it’s a fun call during which you may be laughing and not realizing you’re being loud.
Random Acts of Kindness
The goal is to leave a trail of happiness in your wake. You never know if your simple act of picking up an item that a fellow shopper dropped and handing it to them with a smile, or holding the elevator for someone late for a meeting, will be the event that transforms their day from stressful to relaxed.The entire idea of random acts of kindness is to not wait around to be thanked, but rather to be kind and keep moving. Some random acts of kindness will be warmly appreciated, but most will be ignored. The result matters not—the idea is that you’re committed to making the world just a bit nicer for those around you, regardless of their reaction.
