Respect is All it Takes

by Greg
(San Diego, CA)

My main source of frustration is derived from the rudeness or lack of consideration of others. I try, most of the time, to be aware of my surroundings and whether or not my actions could possibly be intrusive, offensive or otherwise bothersome to people.

This can range from something as minor as looking around before pushing my chair out from a table so as not to collide with anybody, keeping level of conversation at a respectful minimum, taking only the space I need and not using neighboring chairs, tables or other areas for storage of my personal belongings or as a place to rest my feet.

Because I try to maintain this standard, I find myself extremely annoyed when others in public are either too oblivious or inconsiderate to take stock of those around them and adjust their behavior accordingly.

So many of our problems in society derive from this simple lack of consideration; in almost every situation, a little respect goes a long way. The “me first” attitude that so many people seem to have is an unending source of conflict.

We see it every day on our roadways, in particular. Congested traffic is a problem often compounded by frustrated drivers trying to find a way around, or simply in front of, their fellow motorists.

Many fail to see the simple truth: everything flows more smoothly when everyone takes their turn. It’s the incessant jockeying for position and fruitless attempts to find a “shortcut” that can transform a small traffic tie up into a major jam. Simply by applying some perspective to the situation, most problems can be minimized, resolved or simply avoided altogether. All it takes is mutual respect.