And don’t get me started on the courtesy (or lack thereof) expressed by the majority of my peers (and some of my professors) at college! As feral and crass as I can be, I actually have manners I instinctively display in public (at least, it seems that way). 

Not only do I hold doors open for people (which seems like a dying art among my peers), but I’m sure to treat servers, custodians, and whoever else I encounter with respect and a smile, whether or not they truly deserve it. It makes me really sad to see how my servers’ eyes light up when I simply express basic thankfulness to them. Basic thankfulness that I once believed was common courtesy. 

On the other hand, I can walk away from a less-than-pleasant interaction with someone knowing that I took the wind out of their sails by being kind, and not engaging with their nastiness. Clearly, they’ve got something going on with them that has nothing to do with me. I just happened to be caught in the crossfire. 

While it sucks that far too many people are assholes in the world, I’ve long since accepted that people (including myself) are fallible. Hurt people hurt people. And we can’t take their insults and condescension personally. Instead, let it roll off one’s shoulders like the rain. 

At least, that’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way. 

To be continued…