Think about this, what is manners? To you, what does that mean? It could be saying please, thank you, yes sir, yes ma’am, opening a door for someone, standing up when a woman comes to the table, pulling her chair out, being on time, etc. The list could go on for days. Next ask yourself, when was the last time a young man said or did these things to or for you? Without being coerced, instructed, or reminded to do them.
I heard this saying for the first time when watching The Kingsman. Great movie, one of the best scenes ever occurs in this movie. Although the saying has been around a lot longer than The Kingsman, I've since wondered about this saying...how does it translate into the man I want to be, that I want my son to be? When you think of manners, where do you think of? I always think of England. The English are proper gentlemen. Carry themselves with respect, dignity and are kind and thoughtful to those around them.
I find myself looking around and taking in my surroundings and the strangers I might come in contact with. It’s pitiful the lack of manners this society has. A society of men who don’t hold doors for others when walking into a restaurant. Such a simple gesture and speaks so much to another person with no words being said. Opening the door for a girlfriend or wife or daughter. Is it that much harder to walk around, open the door, make sure she’s in and close it? How hard was this? It's not! It starts with us, men, fathers, random examples of manners expressed to a stranger to let the world know that chivalry isn’t dead. Do we not realize that not only are we the examples for our sons to be, but also the example, I hope, our daughters want to be with one day.
How can we instill this word ‘manners’ into the next generation of men, if this generation doesn’t even have it down yet? Think back to our role models as kids, when our dads took the time to teach his kids what manners looked like. I always think back to the episode of Home Improvement when Tim sat down at the table with his 3 sons and tried to teach them some table manners because they were out of control. I’m not saying to be a tyrant about manners, but instill, teach and hold accountable our sons to manners, and it starts with us.Fathers, men of influence...stand up straight, look someone in the eye when you talk, listen, remind our younger generation of children how and why ‘Manners Maketh Man’! Start somewhere, if it all seems daunting and too much at once, start with one and keep going until our sons are respectable, well mannered, and examples of the men we want our next generation to be. Here are 10 manners that are easy to implement, and necessary to bring a more well rounded, well mannered society back.
I heard this saying for the first time when watching The Kingsman. Great movie, one of the best scenes ever occurs in this movie. Although the saying has been around a lot longer than The Kingsman, I've since wondered about this saying...how does it translate into the man I want to be, that I want my son to be? When you think of manners, where do you think of? I always think of England. The English are proper gentlemen. Carry themselves with respect, dignity and are kind and thoughtful to those around them.
I find myself looking around and taking in my surroundings and the strangers I might come in contact with. It’s pitiful the lack of manners this society has. A society of men who don’t hold doors for others when walking into a restaurant. Such a simple gesture and speaks so much to another person with no words being said. Opening the door for a girlfriend or wife or daughter. Is it that much harder to walk around, open the door, make sure she’s in and close it? How hard was this? It's not! It starts with us, men, fathers, random examples of manners expressed to a stranger to let the world know that chivalry isn’t dead. Do we not realize that not only are we the examples for our sons to be, but also the example, I hope, our daughters want to be with one day.
How can we instill this word ‘manners’ into the next generation of men, if this generation doesn’t even have it down yet? Think back to our role models as kids, when our dads took the time to teach his kids what manners looked like. I always think back to the episode of Home Improvement when Tim sat down at the table with his 3 sons and tried to teach them some table manners because they were out of control. I’m not saying to be a tyrant about manners, but instill, teach and hold accountable our sons to manners, and it starts with us.Fathers, men of influence...stand up straight, look someone in the eye when you talk, listen, remind our younger generation of children how and why ‘Manners Maketh Man’! Start somewhere, if it all seems daunting and too much at once, start with one and keep going until our sons are respectable, well mannered, and examples of the men we want our next generation to be. Here are 10 manners that are easy to implement, and necessary to bring a more well rounded, well mannered society back.
1. Say “Please,” “Thank you,” “You’re welcome,” “May I?” and “Excuse me.”
2. Good Grooming. Take care of yourself, and give people your best. Stop wearing slouchy clothes in public. You feel how you look.
3. Look people in the eye. This shows respect and confidence.
4. Clean up after yourselves.
5. Don’t interrupt.
6. Use good table manners
7. Give people a firm handshake.
8. Hold a door for someone.
9. Respond when spoken to.
10. Don’t say hurtful things.
There’s never a bad time to start. If you need to teach yourself before you can teach others, do it! Be accountable to yourself before you can expect those that look up to you to be held accountable.
Comments
Post a Comment