We're Living in a Society Here, People

We, as a people, need to change the way live, the way we act and the way we treat each other. We're living in a society here, people. Let's start working together.

All I'm asking for is a little common courtesy.

If you see someone on the street, say hello or, at least, nod and smile. If someone is following you inside a building, hold the door open behind you or, better yet, hold it open and let your partner in mankind pass through first.

When you're getting on an elevator, wait for the other people to get off before you get on.

If you're driving, and someone lets you over into their lane or out of a side lot or street, give them a thank you wave. Do the same thing for others when they're trying to get out or over.

Also, follow laws when it comes to pedestrians. Let them cross when they're allowed to cross. When you are a pedestrian, cross in a timely manner, especially if cars are trying to legally turn. Don't stroll or strut across the street like you own the world. If you do, don't complain when someone making a legal turn hits your cocky @ss.

When working in a store or in customer service, have a little courtesy for the customer. Get off the phone, stop talking to your coworker, put down whatever you're doing. HELP THE CUSTOMER. Have a little work ethic. And be somewhat polite. Don't act like you're doing the customer some great favor by helping them.

In general, hold doors, pull out chairs, be nice to others. Help people in need when you see them. Spread kindness.

I don't expect everyone to be Boy and Girl Scouts, but come on, where is the love? Let's see a little more Saint and a little less Sinner. Besides, there's so many better ways to sin than to treat someone poorly…but that's a topic for another time.

Too often I'm out and about and I see people ignoring, neglecting and dismissing their fellow people.

I know, I know, you're busy. You're tired. You're stressed. There's just not time to always be kind and courteous when you're running from here to there, talking on your cell phone, faxing, paging, texting, blogging, e-mailing, picking up the kids, going to meetings, running errands, dealing with family responsibilities, blah, blah, blah.

Look, I understand the hectic lifestyle as much as anybody. Deadlines and commitments - I get it. Stress? Ask the fifty knots in my back about it.

All I'm saying is that it doesn't take much time or energy to do the little things that can really brighten a person's day. Kindness is contagious.

You make one person smile, then they go and make that person smile, who in turn goes and makes that person smile…and pretty soon we're all walking around a little bit happier, with a little more spring in our steps.
Call me naïve, say I'm looking at the world through rose-colored glasses or whatever, but I'm telling you, as sappy and lame as it sounds, it works. I've seen it happen.

Okay, now that we're working together, let's go one step further. If you still engage in racism, sexism or any other negative -ism, seriously, grow up and get a life.

We're all created equal, period. Deal with it. No race, creed, culture, nationality, sex, religion or affiliation is any better than the other. No matter what any person or book or "sign from above" says.

Tolerate, respect and accept everyone and everything, but don't push your views on others. Keep your religion and beliefs to yourself.

Believe what you believe and always be yourself - and do so with great passion. At the same time, however, don't demean, belittle or look down upon anyone or anything that doesn't exactly jibe with your beliefs. If we'd all just accept each other for who we are and not try to change people all the time, the world would be a better place.