Small Courtesies Matter
I have often heard this among my group
of friends, “Common Yaar, don’t be so formal. You don’t have to say, Thank you
for this. That is what friends are for”. Well, while it is nice to hear, that
friends do not expect to be thanked, I still think it makes sense on our part
to say, “Thank you”, when we feel thankful to someone for their help or kind
gesture. Ofcourse, it is then left to them to take it or not. But let us not
neglect to do our part.
My feeling on this is, deep inside every one’s heart they are looking
for these small positive strokes, but do not want to say, that they want it. That
is the nature of us, humans. We contradict ourselves a number of times. We feel
something, but say something else.
For instance, let us say the same
friend did you a favour and you failed to thank him, deep in his heart he will
feel, “I did such a big favour and he did not even call to say a simple,
Thanks.” Is it not? So, why give way to assumptions and complicate
relationships. Let us always say ‘Thank you’ or ‘Sorry’ when it is due. Similarly,
when we are in the receiving end, let us learn to accept, these words of
courtesy, with grace.
While it is important to be
courteous, what is more important is our words of courtesy, should also be
genuine. When we say a Thank you or a Sorry, let us mean it. Being courteous is not just an
external act of kindness, but an inward transformation of being respectful to
fellow human beings, irrespective of their social or economic background.
It is a lifestyle transformation that has to become our second nature.
To start with, we can practise these
simple courtesies, with strangers. When we see people waiting to cross the
road, let us slow down our car and allow them to cross. When we see children in
the school bus, waving their hands at us, let us wave back in acknowledgement. While
travelling in a crowded bus, if we see an elderly person standing, let us rise
up and give our seat. When we enter a hotel and the doorman opens the door for
us and wishes us good morning, let us reciprocate the greeting with a smile and
wish him back good morning.
We need to ask ourselves, when was
the last time, we thanked the people who are working for us. Many would say,
that is what they get paid for. But, I personally think that more than the
money, what keeps people working for us, is how we treat them.
It is a common sight in the Indian roads, to see commuters fighting head on over a minor issue, as to who was wrong. Though the person, who has wronged, knows he is wrong, he does not want to own it, because he does not want to cut a sorry figure in public. Many a times, a simple sorry or just a smile can set things straight. But we are conditioned to prove that we are right, rather than to accept that we as humans are bound to err.
Let us understand that small
courtesies, really matters and make a big difference in the way we relate with
people. Like a motor engine, which needs constant lubricating for a smooth
drive on the road, Courtesies are the simple lubricants that we need to keep our relationships
friction free.
D. Senthil Kannan,
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