When practice makes perfect

Have your ever stopped to consider some of your personal habits and how they reflect on you? You would all probably be quite surprised if you viewed a tape of daily habits. These acts form part of our little personal habits to which we hardly give a second thought but really we should examine ourselves. Your personal habits could relay statements to the people around you. Those observing, could really form the wrong image of you, and not the one you hoped to convey, through your unconscious acts.

Parents who insist that their children practise courtesy and good habits at home are doing them a great service, for these habits then become lifelong and the natural way they do things. It is then unlikely that they will ever embarrass themselves socially or in business, for their unconscious actions will reflect a well-mannered person. If you eat with both arms on the table at home, you are likely to do so when out. Children who are permitted to be disrespectful to their parents will follow suit with other adults, and will, most likely, become adults who are disrespectful of others. These behaviours give proof  to the adage “practise makes perfect.” If you  practise good habits at home you are bound to take them out. Practise speaking loud at home and shouting across to the neighbour, and you would more than likely do the same when you spot acquaintances outdoors. What should you do in public?

A nod and a smile are all that are necessary in public. It’s fine for people to stop to greet each other in restaurants, shops, supermarkets or cinemas, as long as the camaraderie does not create a disturbing scene around them, as it would happen in a narrow aisle or passageway. If you are too far apart to speak without shouting, then just smile and wave. In the church, during a theatre performance or at the movies  —places which require minimum distraction- you should only nod and smile. It is thoughtless to engage in conversation until the service or performance is over. “Hello” is acceptable except after a very formal introduction.

“How do you do?” is perfectly correct but somewhat more formal than hello. “Hi” is more informal but should never be said in answer to a formal introduction. Popular slangs “yo” and “How ya doing?” are unacceptable. “How ya doing?” (used as a greeting, not as a sincere question about one’s well-being) or any other phrase beginning with “how” is a no-no. A verbal greeting should be accompanied by direct eye contact which indicates that you actually are paying attention to the person you are acknowledging. Greetings may be accompanied by a handshake, especially during an introduction or when two acquaintances meet one another in passing.