We went to the YWCA for Water Aerobics class the other day. As we were going through the gate I noticed a young laddy that is taking the class for her prenatal exercises. I held the gate open as she went through without any response from her. She was followed by another lady who was from a previous generation and she said "Thank You" as she passed through. I was bothered that the first young lady did not acknowledge my gesture. Then I got to wondering "why should I be expecting anything in return?" I did something nice so what should I be expecting, a pat on the back? Isn't it enough that I had treated another human as a human and shown some respect for them.
One day I went to the Firestone to pick up Sophia's car. A mother with a little girl was coming out of the store. I opened the door and waited for the mother and her daughter come outside. The little girl came out the door and proceeded to go out into the parking lot. Mother did not like her getting away so she decided to stand in the doorway and yell at the little girl to get back up on top of the curb. She kept yelling at her daughter, daughter continued wandering around the parking lot and I stood there like a fool holding the door. Mom now was screaming but instead of going to get her daughter, turned around and started yelling at her husband that their daughter was not listening to her. I was still holding the door. Finally, when husband came to the door it was all cleared as the family all emptied out into the parking lot. I went inside, never acknowledged and glad to be away from such uncouth people.
When I returned to Lubbock, Texas recently, where I grew up, I would hold the door and would hear a "Thank You." I also had the door held open for me many times and I also gave a "Thank You." Now it was not because I expected these manners, but that I enjoyed people treating each other with respect and gentleness. I grew up with a belief that I should consider the feelings of others. Treat others as I would like to be treated. Is being nice to others, just to be thoughtful of the other person, a lost virtue?
