Handle with care.
If not, don’t be surprised
when it pricks back.
The rules we are taught as children sometimes get lost on us as adults. They’re basic forms of communication and I think at times of need, they’re forgotten. These phrases are drilled into our brains when we are little and continuously passed down. There’s no age where you no longer need to use them.
Please!
Thank you!
They seem to be common enough. A sign of respect for one another. Yet, when was the last time you wrote out this thank you, or showed your appreciation for something someone has done for you. Rather than thinking the person knows how you feel, or that it’s their job to help, take the time to give back.
I’m sorry.
Those are some powerful words. They lose their power if you overuse them though. Saying, “I’m sorry,” all the time, is equivalent to not saying it at all. I would know! I was a child who used these words frequently—even on things I had no control over. I learned this excessiveness created a lack of emotion for when the apology really needed feeling. The words lost the weight of a genuine feeling of regret or sorrow. When I stopped apologizing for every little thing, I realized how much stronger the sorry became. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some who have forgotten these words completely as adults. These words aren’t a sign of weakness, but strength. If you’ve made a mistake and inflicted feelings of pain on a person, acknowledging this shows you are learning from your past and improving as you move forward.
Along with these common phrases, I was also taught the variations in kindness. It’s impossible to like and care for everyone; however,
you should treat everyone the way you want to be treated.
It works better than saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” This statement can work with your siblings at home, or your classmates at school; however, it doesn’t necessarily work in all cases. Communication is important, as silence can always be misconstrued.
These rules, or phrases we’ve been taught are the ultimate foundation of caring for other people. It’s where we start and expand from. If you find yourself lost, I encourage you to look back at your younger self. Go back to the basics and work your way up. Everyone is different, and therefore care for different things. The ultimate goal is to learn from one another. We will be offered painful lessons when a thistle is grabbed by the thorns. But we can learn from our experience and handle future situations with care.