Do you think manners are forgotten these days?

~~ The Power Of Please
 
They were called the magic words in childhood: please, thank you, you're welcome. 

Unfortunately, that magic has worn off for far too many people as they've grown older. "Please" has been replaced by demands and expectations, "thank you" with a grunt or a nod. (And forget about "you're welcome." If anyone does bother to say "thank you," the typical response is, "sure," "no problem," or, "No, no, thank you.")

To start bringing back the politeness, try this little experiment the next time you make a request: add a "please," and follow it up with a "thank you." Watch for a look of surprise on the face of the waiter refilling your water glass or the co-worker who's been answering to others' demands all day, then pay attention to your subsequent interactions with that person. You just may find those words still hold magic, after all.

~~ Respond, If You Please
 
Yes, the literal translation of R.S.V.P. is a request: please reply. That doesn't mean you should blow it off.

It's still common courtesy to let someone know whether you plan to grace them with your presence.

Guesstimating how many will actually come can lead to an ill-prepared and stressed out party planner.

An accurate headcount, on the other hand, can help make a happy host and a more pleasant evening all around. And it only takes a second to click that button that says whether or not you're coming.

~~ Power Of The Pen
 
Email may be the standard letter form these days, but there's still nothing quite as personal as a handwritten note.

Many kids were required to write thank you notes by hand after every birthday with the threat they may not get presents again next year if they don't properly express gratitude

But that threat seems to have faded away; in today's adult world, a thank you note is more often a standard e-card if it comes at all.

The next time you have someone to thank, try sitting down and writing it out on your own. You'll force yourself to reflect, and you'll create a tangible memento your friend can treasure.

 ~~ Ignore The Phone, Not Your Friend
 
When one person is yakking on the phone while a friend is sitting across the table picking at her salad? It's just rude.

Cell phones have become a necessity we let run our lives. We've been trained to respond to every little beep or vibration, whether important or trivial, no matter what.

If the phone interrupts something you're doing, that's one thing. But when you spend time with someone and decide to take a phone call, you let that other person know they're not as important as whoever is calling.

Sure, there are certain emergencies when you need to stay glued to your phone, but how many messages and calls can wait until later? We survived without being constantly online before the advent of the cell phone. You can wait half an hour to check the direct message you just got through Twitter.
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