Conversational Courtesies

You’ve probably heard it said before: How would you behave if Mother Teresa or Jesus walked into the room? The goal is to treat everyone with a similar level of respect. And this starts in the area of social interaction and conversation.

How do you greet others? Not everyone expects a formal greeting, but some do. Do them the honor of remembering and repeating their name. Show your attentiveness and interest, no matter the topic. Try to make your tone as friendly as possible. Where appropriate, compliment them on their attire or some known accomplishment.

The courtesy you show isn’t about trying to impress or behaving falsely. It’s about leaving a legacy for what matters every time you engage another human. We are all precious and deserving of kindness, but we are reminded of this all too rarely. With your simple acts of courtesy, you can give the gift of that reminder.

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. —Proverbs 16:24

From the book