Why do people forget to flush the toilet? It seems like such a small thing, perhaps a bit of an inconvenience, but have you ever stopped to think about the radical impact such a small service in a public place? Come on, no one likes to talk about the stink, much less coming up on it after getting reamed by the boss about your work ethic while battling intense indigestion. I apologize if that produces any images or bad memories. Perhaps embarrassing ones.
My point is that that small act of kindess in simply cleaning up after yourself goes a long way. That basic template can be applied to wide range of acts and events throughout your day. Smile at a stranger. Say hello to the cashier. Implore someone you know to honestly speak of their day, and for once (on your honor) actually listen to the response with enraptured interest. Just the other day, I was upset that I don’t talk to anyone anymore. Instead of feeling angry, I looked them up. I’ll admit, it was on Facebook, but it’s just like a coffee-filled teddy bear given to you at Christmas that you can’t open to brew the coffee and can do nothing else with; it’s the thought that counts.
I do come home a lot. I don’t know how to say this delicately, so I won’t. I don’t feel like some people, or really anyone I know is following these simple, delicate steps. They’re delicate because when you don’t follow them, you can really hurt a person, even if they don’t show it. I know I don’t. I am now trying to bite my tongue when I want to contradict someone, and I listen to the dull and the ignorant, who, in my opinion, might even have their own story worth listening to. I come home to see you, but I feel like you’re gone. And I do miss you, and all these delicate manners which I’ve come to appreciate and have begun to practice.