News headlines showed the other day an outrageous scandal on a college campus. A young lady got offended by a young man because he held the door for her.
My husband had a similar experience, 12 years ago, when he held the door for a student. She got upset, telling him that she doesn’t need a man’s help, and she is not useless and incapable of opening a door. My husband’s reply was, “I come from Europe, and men are gentlemen over there, and this is how they treat women.”
A couple of hours later, she was in his one-on-one communication class, and he tailored the course and taught the students about cultural diversity. By the end of the year, the young lady who was so offended by my husband’s gesture was one of his best students.
Young women, if you don’t appreciate a well-mannered man is because of your limitations. Be open-minded, break the pattern of how you used to be treated, and surround yourself with people who respect you and motivate you to build up self-esteem.
Young men, don’t be ashamed to show polite behavior. Stand for your virtues and prove that gentlemen still exist.
Take into consideration these aspects that will improve your life considerably:
- Don’t be ignorant
Be curious and learn from others and be a good observer. - Don’t judge people based on your present experience.
Be open-minded and accept people’s differences. - Don’t stay in your safety net.
Broaden your circle of friends and interact as much as you can with people who have a different cultural background. You learn so much from other people’s experiences of life. - Don’t let others influence your decision.
Use critical thinking and don’t rely only on information that tv channels and social media offer. - Be mindful and choose wisely your channels of information and your influencers. Don’t be blown away by the numbers of followers and how cool he/she is.
Ultimately, you are the one who decides from where to pick the most useful information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is holding the door for a woman old-fashioned or offensive?
Holding the door is a gesture of politeness and respect, not a suggestion that anyone is incapable. Young women who do not appreciate a well-mannered man are limiting themselves, and the invitation is to be open-minded, break old patterns, and surround yourself with people who respect you and build up your self-esteem.
Why do good manners matter in everyday life?
Good manners improve the quality of life and reflect your attitude toward your life and career. They shape how you treat others and how others perceive and respond to you, in both personal and professional settings.
Should men still practice chivalrous behavior today?
Yes, young men should not be ashamed to show polite behavior. Stand for your virtues and prove that gentlemen still exist, because courteous gestures are a mark of respect rather than a relic of the past.
What habits can improve my life alongside good manners?
Be curious rather than ignorant, learn from others, and observe well; be open-minded and accept differences instead of judging people by your own experience. Broaden your circle beyond your safety net to include people from different cultural backgrounds, use critical thinking rather than relying on television and social media, and choose your information sources and influencers wisely rather than being swayed by follower counts.