I simply don’t see how good manners can be used as a lever against the practitioner. Practicing good manners is good for your heart, regardless of what the other person does. Well, unless they physically assault you, I guess.
I play a little *game* here. S. Florida is filled with the most sour people you can imagine. I smile at them and see how many I can get to smile back. I would say far fewer than 50% but so what? Even if I just brightened one person’s day, that’s enough for me. I’m not going to let the angry people win.
“I play a little *game* here. S. Florida is filled with the most sour people you can imagine. I smile at them and see how many I can get to smile back. I would say far fewer than 50% but so what? Even if I just brightened one person’s day, that’s enough for me.”
My son and I played that game in the grocery a while back. We’d smile and say hello, some looked at us like we were nuts but a majority returned the greeting.