One thing I notice quite often is how infrequently people tend to do one of the easiest and most basic acts of kindness there is: being polite. Perhaps it is one of the differences you see when growing up in a small town, or perhaps it’s simply how I was raised, but I find it shocking how little people tend to simply be polite towards others.

What is being polite?

• Saying please and thank you
• Holding doors for people
• Smiling and being friendly
• Treating others (not matter who they are) with respect and decency

Taking People For Granted

One of the unfortunate observations one can make about our society is that people often treat others (particularly people in the service or labour industries) as inferior. That is something that truly frustrates me as these are some of the most hard working individuals on the face of this earth.

People in these kinds of jobs are not slaves, nor are they your personal servants. So if you’re treating them as such, it’s about time you get your head out of your ass. These are people who are serving you as a means of employment, not as your personal slave. Next time you are at a restaurant and the server comes around to refill your cup of coffee or water, make sure you pause your conversation for a brief half-second, turn, smile and say “thank you”. And you’re crazy like me, you’ll do it every single time they come around.

Treat People as Equals

There are unfortunately many different kinds of people who fall into this category, but the easy way to remember is this: treat everyone as equals. People, no matter who they are, deserve your respect and politeness. I’ll go as far as to say this is a social responsibility we all have to the people we interact with.

This was one of my mother’s major life lessons to me: always be kind and polite to people around you no matter who they are. I was always taught to thank the bus driver on the way out, to treat the cleaning lady like a family member, to befriend and be kind to the crew of a boat, and be courteous and friendly to the hotel staff. You should address anyone you meet politely without any prejudice based on their work, socioeconomic status, standard of living, or environment.

Change Your Mindset

Homeless people are another category of people who get harassed on a regular basis. You do not know the struggles certain people have gone through, so don’t treat them like scum. Be polite. You don’t have to feel obligated to give them money, but you also don’t have to treat them like dirt. These are people who have had tremendously difficult lives for whatever their reasons may be, whether they are from living in a difficult environment, or going through traumatic life experiences.

When you’re walking home one day, I challenge you to stop and speak to a homeless person on the street. You can break the ice by giving them some food or some money if you want, but really like any other person, you can approach them and ask how they are, or how their day is going. These people can often be some of the friendliest people you know, and you can learn a lot of humility from them. People can often be deterred by their appearance, but don’t let that scare you off. You’re a better person than that, so step up and start treating others with the respect and decency they deserve. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet someone as cool as “The Bear”, who likes to hang out around the BMV bookstore on Bloor Street.

I’d love to hear peoples thoughts and opinions regarding this matter. If you have anything to share, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Originally published at www.izzydoesizzy.ca on August 14, 2014.