The New Year is a time for setting new goals.  So among the other goals you may have, here are a few quotes and concepts to always be kind and polite to everyone you encounter.  It is said:

1.   “Kindness is a universal language that all people understand.” — Jake Gaither
“Politeness is to do and say the kindest thing in the kindest way.” — An old verse
Think before you say or act, showing courtesy, respect, consideration, and honesty in everything you do in life.

2.     “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”  — Anne Frank
We can all be a little kinder to the people with whom we interact.

3.     “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
No words were ever truer. At the end of each day, assess how your behavior affected others that day. Were you always striving to build that relationship by your words and actions? Or, did you say or do something unkind or rude?  Never treat anyone as though they are lower or less than you.

4.     “Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are.” — Author Unknown
Once you are nice to someone, they will be nice to you. Isn’t this wonderful?

5.     “The difference between good manners and bad manners is how a person is remembered. In each moment, a person can either build their credibility or chip it away by a simple word or act.” — Michelle Burke
“ Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people’s bad manners.” — H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Isn’t this the truth… which means the road to success is never finished!

6.     “The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any.”  — Fred Astaire
“ Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners.” — Author unknown
“Parents are usually more careful to bestow knowledge on their children rather than doing well; but their manners should be of the greatest concern.” — R. Buckminster Fuller
As popularized by Hilary Rodem Clinton, the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” means we cannot live in a world of “Do as I say, not as I do.” We must all be role models of how we want to live our own lives… in a world filled with nice people!

 7.     “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”  — Ralph Waldo Emerson – Whenever we help others, it helps us back in return by feeling better about ourselves and about humanity.

8.     “If it is to be, it’s up to me” is a phrase I like. It’s also a book title by Thomas B. Smith. For me boils down to a) choosing what kind of world in which you want to live; then, b) Becoming a witness to this lifestyle in order to make this a better place in which to live.

Bonus:

• “Laughter is by definition healthy.” — Doris Lessing
  
• “Cheerfulness is contagious, but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.” — Anonymous
• “Civility costs nothing and buys everything.” — Mary Wortley Montague

Be sure to read these quotes more than once to truly have them sink in!

Have a great year!