The great secret
“The great secret , Eliza , is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners but behaving as if you were in heaven , where there are no third class carriages and one soul is as good as another”.
George Bernard Shaw, Pygmalion
But good heaven! What are good etiquettes, is it the same snobbish elite behavior my aunt from south Mumbai portrays, when she visits us or is there some thing else to it? This is question which haunts are conscience every now and then.
Dear reader, today I will give an insight on what exactly do we understand by etiquettes / manners.
Actually they are simple ‘way of life’ to behave in a civilized society to minimize conflicts. They have evolved from basic decency and surely indicate true strength of one’s character.
Small changes in your mannerism towards good, gets you appreciation from the society and everyone, yes, every one thrives on the acceptance and appreciation from others.
Using simple magic words, like thank you, sorry, u are right, excuse me, may I help you; can put you in ‘A’ list of style in people’s vision.
Always try to get your way with finesse and I suggest you get your way out also with finesse because a humble person with right etiquettes is remembered much longer in an appreciative way in every body’s memories, than a person equipped with every thing but manners.
There is a golden rule in etiquettes; don’t be rude to the rude person, however hard it may be, never be rude to a rude person, when someone barges in the queue, make irritating conversation or farmyard noises or confronts you with attitude, all you want to do is retaliate, challenging though it is, this is the time to be polite, you certainly may stand up for yourself in a firm manner or may let people know that they have hurt your feelings or sentiments with their behavior, but you must express this with utmost civility.
In today’s rush age it may seem out of place and difficult to believe that the above mentioned behavior works in one’s favor , but believe me it has till now worked well for all ages and will continue to do so, till the time, we have world war three and restart living as hunting and gathering tribe, all over again. Because that would be the time to start new rules for the society and till then stick to the already prevailing ones and establish our identities as the most courteous and mannered personality with whom everybody would like to be associated.
And always remember what G.B.Shaw said – “A gentle man is someone who never insults some one else intentionally.”
