Word-Of-the-Week #709: Gracious
March 8, 2018 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #709: Gracious
Gracious – marked by kindness, courtesy, compassion and a generosity of spirit.
How would you rate yourself when it comes to being kind and courteous? How many people do you know that exhibit gracious behavior? Do you think the younger generation is sorely lacking when it comes to manners and courtesy?
I got immediate responses to the last two WOW’s on manners from long time friends. And it triggered the word Gracious which is a quality I aspire to have. It’s not always easy to do and be!
Mary wrote, “This manners WOW really hit a chord with me. Why can’t people just be “polite”? To me, please, thank you, your welcome, how are you, may I help you, I’m sorry, forgive me, what can I do… all these types of questions and statements are so important. And no elbows on the table. Sheesh! Thanks for all you do to keep us informed and make us better people.”
Susan wrote, “Your WOW this week really stirred me to comment. I strongly believe good manners start at home. There is nothing worse in my opinion than an ill behaved child lacking good manners…other than the parents that allow them to behave that way.
While visiting a friend with children ages 7 and 9, I was appalled at how rude and manner less her children were. Needless to say I cut my visit short and the next time we get together will be at a place that serves martinis!
My mother told me when I was pregnant with my first child, “Don’t be the kind of parent that other parents hate to see coming because of your ill mannered child…they never dislike you the parent, they dislike the child.” I understand! 
This is very good advice so THANK YOU for bringing MANNERS to our attention.”
And Joe wrote, “Unfortunately, the biggest group of people who do not have manners are the millennial’s. Part of the problem is that there is an attitude of entitlement. They feel that if they receive something there is no need to thank the other person. That is not how polite society runs.
I can’t tell you how many times I have sent cards to the children of friends or relatives and never received a thank you phone call from either the mother or the child. This is on the mothers raising these kids. They’re raising the next generation, and they are not doing a good job.
Whenever our girls receive a gift from a friend or relative, they MUST send a thank you card that is WRITTEN, not emailed. This is basic courtesy. Kristen has attended showers for a couple of my relations and never received a thank you note or phone call for the gift she purchased. Kristen told me that she doesn’t expect one either.
I’m sure that another reason people use is that they just don’t have the time. When we make time for others that is showing that we respect what they have done for us. When they don’t make time that simply shows they don’t care and are living in a vacuum.
In many instances, these people were never trained properly by their parents in the first place. I don’t know if that can be used as an excuse any more when there are examples of good manners all around us, every day. And people do watch how others act and imitate that behavior. That is human nature.
It is the parents who are going to have to start setting the examples for the kids.”
I am a big believer in sending hand written thank you notes, even if someone has just done a kind gesture. They are greatly appreciated!
This week focus on being more kind, compassionate, and courteous to those people in your life. Your family, your friends, your customers, your clients, and your co-workers. How does it feel to be gracious? How does it make others feel when they are treated graciously?
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