No.Nonsense.

As I sat at my desk yesterday for my full-time gig, a woman I never saw walked by me. I might not have seen her but I sure smelled her. It was a good scent- just entirely too much of it. How many of us have walked by someone who apparently performed a submersion baptism in their cologne? Male or female, it makes no difference, they take the scenting too far and end up sending everyone around them into anaphylaxis trying to breathe in their gas chamber.

I spent the next hour trying to take a deep breath. I don’t have asthma or COPD or any other respiratory limitations and I still struggled. I wonder if the woman with the generous spray even considered that others might have difficulty breathing in her vicinity.

This whole ordeal today had me thinking about other common courtesies we have allowed to fall by the wayside in our “it’s all about me” world. I decided to post the question on my personal social media and receive input from my friends on those manners they wish would come back in style. Let’s dive in to their list and see who of us agree or disagree.

1. In the realm of body odors, please wear deodorant. I will add to this one to bathe too. If birds drop in your wake, maybe consider your hygiene.
2. Please take your phone conversations outside of the restaurant. I don’t need to hear about your hemorrhoid surgery while I’m eating my steak.
3. And while we are on restaurant etiquette- and I’m talking to myself on this one- put down the damn phone and talk to your dinner companion. You apparently like them in order to go to dinner with them so act like it.
4. When you walk through a door, please hold it for the person behind you. Especially if it’s little grandma, don’t bop her face with the door. She bruises easily.
5. As evidenced in this column, please say please. And when you finish, say thank you. It costs you nothing to be polite. Richard Scarry will know you read his book. For all you Gen Z’s, that’s a Gen X reference.
6. If you are not disabled, please don’t park in the handicap space. Don’t sit at the curb blocking the little ramp. If you are disabled but are feeling good today, give yourself a little extra exercise and leave those closer spots for those who are struggling a bit more. Physical therapy is good for you.
7. Don’t always go for instant gratification. It’s not going to kill you to wait for someone to answer your text. We are not all anxiously awaiting your call.
8. Move over to the right lane if you’re putt-putting on the highway and for God’s sake, use your turn signals. Okay, I’ll admit I’m guilty on the signals. On the flip side, if you’re the speed demon in the left lane, give me a chance to move over before you blind me with your hi-beams. I’m trying to get somewhere too and can’t do it effectively if you make me see spots.
9. Take off your headphones or remove your ear buds if I’m talking to you. You might have those fancy ones that adjust automatically, but it’s still just polite and says you’re actually engaged. If they’re still in or on your ears I don’t know if you’re having a conversation with me or the voices in your head.
10. Finally, this one hit me wrong because I thought it was directed at me. I am in fact writing an opinion column. Then I started thinking about the wording and a bit later my cousin messaged me privately to say basically the same thing. The initial comment was that “not every opinion needs to be expressed” or as my cousin put it, if I don’t ask for your opinion, don’t give it. If you’re not my friend I don’t need you to tell me my clothes don’t match. I looked in the mirror and I know they don’t match. And I don’t care.

For every single one of these points it comes down to one simple principle. Be polite, understanding that it’s not all about you. I promise that when you commit to just being nice, your life becomes quite a bit better because you will get nice back. It costs you nothing but pays you so much more. Plus Ms Manners- and your mother- will be proud of you.

And now I will say thank you for reading. I hope you have a fabulous day.