It’s because they have forgotten author Robert Fulghum’s wise words regarding what many of us learned as kids.
“These are the things I learned (in Kindergarten):
1. Share everything.
2. Play fair.
3. Don’t hit people.
4. Put things back where you found them.
5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
6. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
7. Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.
8. Wash your hands before you eat.
9. Flush.
10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
11. Live a balanced life – learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.
12. Take a nap every afternoon.
13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Stryrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
15. Goldfish and hamster and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.
16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK.”
― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
*
I think we’ve got the “Looking” part down pat, but most of the other rules, the ones related to good behavior seem, for many, to have gotten lost. And it feels like the more we stress “social correctness”, the more we see the breakdown of basic, good, everyday manners. Our politicians and other “people in the news” are certainly among some of the worst. But we’re (the private individual) not far behind them. Just go online for any subject, in any social media to find the very worst of how humans can be.
Don’t get me wrong, the very best is out there too, but there are those days when it seems we have to wade through the negative to get to the positive. Come on guys, knock it off. We’re better than that.
When we’re out there making a positive difference and helping others we illuminate the best of who we can be. And sadly there’s not an “app. for that”, so it’s up to us. Let’s be more focused on what’s right and less on what’s wrong.
And let’s be polite and show respect (this includes politicians of all parties). We’re getting darn tired of our politicians behavior, and I believe I speak for most Americans, even though we may individually disagree on a given issue, we all expect better of those we’ve elected to represent us in our government.
So that’s all – just so very weary of negativity. Hopeful for lots more positiveness, which is when things really do happen – for the better.
Have a positive “rest of your week”,
~ Penny
The Why About This 
Thanks for having the courage to remind people about forgotten lost values. I love this! 🙂 ❤
Hi Debby, I find I need to remind myself of this as well, frequently! 🙂 xo
🙂
Well said penny.
With a capital P – Where’s my manners – Sorry, I hit the post comment button to soon.
Oops, I’m glad I’m not the only one who does things like that, lol! 🙂
I am always getting too trigger happy with the keys.
Hi Sandra, thanks my friend. I hope life has been treating you well – you deserve it! xx
Hi Penny, thanks. My Grandma died on the 13th of July, while holding my hand. She was a best friend to me. I miss her terribly. It was her funeral yesterday and it’s hitting home today. I wrote a post about her death as a tribute to her life and I wrote a pre-funeral prayer that I posted before the funeral yesterday xx
I’m very sorry for your loss Sandra. Hard to lose those we love and are close to. Thank God for our memories of them, which last forever! Much love to you at this time, dear friend! 🙂 xo
Thanks Penny. The funeral was hard but my poem was well received. I went around hugging everyone, including the organ player and coffin bearers. Apparently I forgot to hug the Funeral Director – He told my dad that he was the only one who didn’t get a hug, poor chap! I also got the Birdie Song to play us out of the crematorium. I did some of the actions to it but couldn’t remember them all. At least it will be remembered as a quirky funeral.
I’m glad you made it through the funeral okay, sorry about the forgotten hug to the Funeral Director but as you say it will be remembered as a quirky funeral – a very good thing, I think! xx
Yes. I left smiling at the end with the Birdie song. That has helped the healing process. My parents got the ashes back today.
Penny, what a joy to visit RoSy on Twitter and find this link in a tweet. There is just no need for rudeness when a smile can take a person in so many positive directions. Sometimes it is just better to ‘grin and bear it’ instead of uttering words that are hurtful. We all have so-called bad days. That’s life but we should all strive to let the good outweigh the bad. So good to ‘see’ you!
Hi there Sharla, how are you and your husband? How is he doing? It’s been awhile since we’ve connected my dear friend. Good to “see” you too. I agree with your words here. Have just the best 4th of July ever! xx
Rude people – UGH!
And – politicians can be such bullies.
Now – I’m judging…
So – I’ll stop – before I go into the phase of channeling my g’ma & using her colorful vocab. 😉
xo 🙂 🙂 xo
Oh a colorful vocabulary, well I think grandmothers have a right to use it, they’ve been there, done that, and so forth. RoSy! 🙂 xo
Excellent post Penny! I couldn’t agree with you more. It seems that social media has given us license to speak our minds, no matter how rudely we go about doing it. Perhaps it is because we have a screen to hide behind. Would it be the same if we stood face-to-face with those same people we are being disrespectful to? Hard to believe that would be the case, although I do know a few who seem to thrive on verbal altercations with their need to always be right. I feel the life ebbing away whenever I am around people like this and have had to get to a point where I have removed them from my life, a family member most recently, which was heartbreaking but I felt like the only course of action left to me.
Yea, LuAnn. Way to go! Life is much longer, fuller and richer when we say goodbye to those who are so negative they infect us as well. It’s hard to do (the removing part), but honestly it is worth it in the long run. xx
It makes everything harder in life when people can’t be polite. Cheers, Penny! 🙂
Too true, too true! And so easy to be nice! 🙂
I believe internet, while a blessing in some ways, a culprit in this age of human desensitization thanks to acronyms, cyber bullying, etc. Some have so lost their social skills, they can only go out “gadget armed” and sit together on their electronics. Sad. See it every day though. Not seeming to get better. In my observation.
Hi Janni, and I agree with you, completely, sigh! Thank you for stopping by and your wise words, very much appreciated by me! 🙂
It is interesting that you would post this today. Karma?? I had the unfortunate experience of meeting the most incredibly rude person today. I fully understand the stress of losing valued and treasured memento’s in a fire but to stand there and swear at me ( yes foul mouthed straight out cussing ) because I was throwing away food in your burnt out kitchen. I tried explaining to her that is is a law, not just a random decision on my part. Everything is inventoried and replaced by her insurance company but no..I was the enemy. I have a good mind to slip a copy of your list in with her replacement grocery order. ***sigh** Thanks Penny..I think I will #10 now
I’m so sorry Patricia, and I know what a loving and caring person you are. Honestly there is no excuse for rudeness. Hoping the rest of your week is better for you. I’m sending extra positive energy your way, much love to you. xx
I only said to a child today the line from Bambi… if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all. That line impressed me as a child. Kindness goes a long way.! Have a good smiley week Penny!
Hello my dear friend. I adore Bambi but also his little pal Thumper too!! You also have a great week, Ute. I hope yours has started out well for you! Big hugs! xx
It’s unfortunate that most of the politicians feel it is their right to be nasty to other people. Plus some football (soccer) players. Just look at the the Uruguay / Italy match yesterday when one of the players allegedly decided he wanted to see what Italian tasted like. In the World Cup, you see first hand where the game has turned into a contact sport.
You see people in the street shouting at each other and hurling abuse, it seems that gone are the days of mumbling under your breath, taking a few relaxing moments and then forgetting about it. I have known people who I would rather have not because of their violence, etc. There was someone who had to have an escort whenever he went into a particular office because of his violent outbursts.
I think things are better dealt with by being nice. I know there are times when I have been guilty of not being nice, but I have never intentionally taken it to the step where I have really hurt someone. I know I have done so unintentionally, but who hasn’t?
Violence, aggressive behaviour, nastiness should not have a place in our society now. We have evolved from the neanderthal era so there is no reason to behave in that way.
A smile can do a lot more than a snarl can, and it can make so many people’s days.
Thank you for this Penny.
For crying out loud Alastair – that soccer player was hungry! 😛
Haha. Funnily enough, I was in a shop today looking at second hand books, and one of them was “Is it alright to eat people” 🙂
Cannibals!
Hi Alastair, funny isn’t it? In a manner of speaking that is. It is easier to be nice and well mannered and so very very simple and yet it seems to be the thing that is the hardest! Sigh! xx
I agree. And it is usually the ones who are looked up to the most