You can get through life with bad manners, but it’s easier with good manners. Lillian Gish

Something went horribly wrong somewhere. Somewhere along the way, we lost the basic principles of manners. Manners, social graces, whatever you want to call it, and they have been lost.

Last year, I was at EAT! Vancouver, in line to receive one of the many samples available that day. When I finally got my sample and said “thank you,” the lady working the booth looked at me funny and said I was the first person that day to say thank you to her. WHAT?

People look at me funny when I say “excuse me” passing them in the aisle in the grocery store or when I want to move past them and their grocery cart. Is that really that odd? I didn’t think so. What have we come to?

Yes, I have my Southern sensibilities and still say “Yes Ma’am” to my mother and any other woman older than I am regardless that I am now in my 40s. It’s the way I was taught and my mother wouldn’t accept anything less.

What happened?

There are some fab parents around who are teaching their children these social graces. Thank you, it’s appreciated. It makes me smile when I see a child say thank you, please or excuse me. But what I found is those parents have great social graces too. It’s easy to pass it along when you practice what you preach.

Manners never go out of style. And know, people are watching not just in your personal live but definitely in business.

Excuse me, but please consider your manners in the future. Thank you!

Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use. Emily Post