There are over 31 dates, observances and celebrations in the month of September. If I wrote about each them, ACCESSline would need to double the pages for the month!
Bring in a consultant, have meetings, talk to friends, explore options, conduct survey’s, etc. How do you find out what makes people happy? How do you find out what makes people unhappy? How do you make people happy? All good questions, and although the direct answer for each of them could be lengthy I propose that we consider that we all need to be nicer.
Nicer to ourselves, nicer to each other, nicer to people we don’t know, nicer to people we don’t like, nicer to people we work with, and nicer to people who live with us, near us, or away from us…
I love watching people. I love listening to them talk, rant, and live. I love watching their body language and how they respond to one another. What I find most interesting is those who are seeking help from someone else are the ones who are often the most rude, mean, and uncompromising.
Thank you. Please. Are three very small words with so much meaning. And the best thing—they are free. There is not much left in this world that is free these days. These meaningful words are powerful and they create opportunities that might not have otherwise occurred had they not been used. Thank you. Please. When was the last time you said Thank You to someone who served you? (I know, that is their job, why thank them for doing something they are paid to do.) When is the last time you used the word please when making a request or asking for help?
When I coach individuals and couples on the “foundations”, what I help them all understand is that all relationships (no matter how close, how new, how important, or how temporary) require 3 things: Communication, Compromise, and Commitment. Communication is more than listening and talking. Compromise is more than keeping score or taking turns. Commitment is through the toughest and the best of times. It is also about being nice. It is about saying please and thank you.
On September 24th, 2012, we all can observe “National Thank You Day.” The day is to be held annually on the last Monday of September. It was inspired by the findings of a recent survey conducted by Merci and The Emily Post Institute that found that while 87.3 percent of Americans said they are bothered when people don’t say thank you, 90.2 percent feel that they don’t say thank you enough. The 1,088 people surveyed believed saying please, thank you, and you’re welcome are the most important good manners to observe, followed by practicing patience while waiting in lines.
Please use this day as a reminder (a reset if you will) that all year long we ALL need to practice (not just preach and teach) good manners, and being nice… we need to do it. Thank you!
Rev. Royal D. Bush is the founder of Inclusive Life, where he serves as a multifaith Chaplain. He shares this message to all: “You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.” He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary. He holds a current certificate of spiritual counseling with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling and is a member of Spiritual Directors International. He actively volunteers and remains active in many social justice issues.
ABOUT INCLUSIVE LIFE…
Inclusive Life has been offering Pastoral Services to those in Iowa and Nebraska since 2009. We are a Nebraska, Nonprofit, Independent-Multifaith Community. Religious. Nonreligious. Spiritual. We serve all without exception. We offer Pastoral Care, Officiate Weddings, Prepare End of Life Documents, provide hospital visits, perform: Baptisms, naming ceremonies, blessings, dedications, and Officiate Funerals.
