11 Jan It’s a new beginning…
Happy New Year to all who read this. Due to a family tragedy last September I have been lax in keeping up with my intent to write in this blog and to share my thoughts about the state of rudeness in our society. While the grieving process takes time, I am dedicated again to paying attention to it and writing more often.
Recently I decided to sign up for Google alerts for the words etiquette and business etiquette. I am heartened to see that the subject is written about every day and many times a day at that. Though a certain percentage of the articles and blog posts are about bathroom etiquette (it really must be bad out there), it is nice to see that the general printed media have taken it upon themselves to alert the public that etiquette is not only an interesting subject but one that sells papers. The growth of our “industry” of teaching manners and proper business methods has, in my opinion, stemmed from the increase in media coverage. If you read the word enough times, perhaps it may stick in your mind as a worthy consideration.
Another thought for today. How many of you received thank you notes for the gifts you gave to others during the holidays? Did you receive them by email? by text message? or by a handwritten note with an envelope and stamp? I sent a gift to a young cousin (age 24) last holiday which was never acknowleged by her. Instead her mother sent a handwritten note to me thanking me in her stead. Taken aback by the mother’s gesture and wanting to see if anything was wrong, I called for a chat. I was informed that her daughter thought that she would say thank you to me the next time she saw me. (I haven’t seen her since she was 12 and don’t have any plans to visit the state where she lives) Funny that having an etiquette maven in the family doesn’t encourage the impetus for good manners. Her mother on the other hand fully understands the need for acknowledgement of a gift and its good will. We have a lot of work to do!
