Watching a smiling young man of about 22 years of age as he offered his seat to an elderly woman (not me, but thank you for asking) I grinned until my cheeks hurt at the simple, yet noble gesture. It warms my heart to see a true gentleman in action, mostly because they are so rarely found these days.
As a child of the 60’s and 70’s, I didn’t get much of a say about the whole Women’s Liberation Movement. I was too busy admiring Marcia’s fashion-sense and worrying about Gilligan getting hit in the head with the Skipper’s hat for the umpteenth time (seriously, he could’ve put the little buddy’s eye out). If I had been given a say about equality in the workplace and other plus points of feminism, I mostly would have agreed – but I’m sad that the “gentleman” was the sacrifice for the offering.
Certainly, I would not have voted gentlemanly civility away. I like having my doors opened, seeing a man stand when I approach a table and thinking how honorable it is when an older woman receives assistance or consideration (and yes, this time I am talking about myself and my peers) from some dashing chap with a gracious smile on his face.
It’s not that I’m Nell Fenwick waiting to be saved (like Dudley’s damsel in-constant-distress girlfriend). Strong and independent woman that I am, there are days I walk out of my local market holding my purse pitying the fool who might try to snatch it. Sure, they might get away, but I promise to have their DNA under my fingernails. Move along people, nobody’s victim and no shrinking violet to be seen here.
I’m also pretty good with power tools, having waited one too many times for the Honey Do list to be even looked at. Craftsman would be proud to have me as a poster child, because I can wield a 19.2 volt drill/driver with the best of them. Ask me sometime about the circular saw skills I learned from my episode of Trading Spaces Family … legendary.
Still, fiercely competent or not, is it too much to ask to have civility reinstated? Am I just dreaming of having the cake and eating it, too? It’s not just the Eagle Scout I want to look around and see. Across the board, men and women alike seem to have dropped any kind of polite behavior toward one another. We live in a land where bad behavior is rewarded, often with a widely publicized television show and medical benefits.
For a moment in time, not too long ago, the film “Pay it Forward” socked you right in the gut about the importance of being a decent human being. Around the same time, the notion of Random Acts of Kindness gained some steam and it was a pleasure to watch unfold. Any more, courtesy seems like an antiquated notion and it shouldn’t be that way.
During November, I would like to propose that we all make an effort to extend a benevolent (perhaps anonymous) hand to those around us … giving them something to be thankful for. And then, I would love to hear about it via my T. Katz Facebook page or email (tkatz@tkatz.com). Ladies and gentlemen, it just takes a little effort to do your part to warm a few hearts, as the temperature drops outside.