Please and Thank You...

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So, I'm in Starbucks a LOT. It's a really great way for me (and the bf) to get work done without the distractions of being home.

The one thing I've realized during my time here is the fact that some patrons (in Starbucks and other public venues) lack basic etiquette. Since I'm not the classiest person in the world, I usually give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to this. But, I do believe that simple consideration for your fellow human beings is a foundational trait.

With that being said, here are a few simple things to keep in mind when in a public place:

Use headphones. What's up with people watching movies and listening to music like they're at home?? Today we were sitting next to two women that turned on their computer with the volume so loud that felt like we were watching it in a public amphitheater. On the train, we sat across from a teenager who played his iPod as if it were a modern boombox...and singing along as if he were on American Idol: F Train Edition. Why is this okay??

Inside voice, please. Whether you're inside a tiny coffee shop or your local strip mall, if you need to talk on the phone, please take it outside. I've heard many conversations (not by choice) about dinner options, medical conditions, dating adventures, etc. I really don't need to know that you're deciding between chicken and meatloaf, or the fact that you think you got an STD because of your burning reproductive parts. Seriously.

Stand in line. Why do some people insist that blocking the door or crowding around the cashier will help expedite their purchases quicker? Or worse, skipping ahead as if the cashier was a bouncer they knew at a local club? This just results in: 1. Cashiers gravitating to the tall guy (so not me) 2. People shouting their orders like they were on the floor of the Stock Exchange. 3. Getting punched, slapped or shoulder shoved - 80's movie style. Please don't do it, and wait your turn.

Be polite. Use your eyes. Look around. Chances are, other people are around you! So, be nice. Speak politely. If you can't speak, use a bodily function to get someone's attention without being rude (a slight burp, a quiet fart, slightly urinate on yourself, etc.) Kidding about the last one (especially since releasing gas can be very offensive), but you know what I mean. Instead of shoving past someone by using your huge bookbag (or butt) say "excuse me" (again, nicely - saying it with a loud attitude eliminates the "nice" factor...) If you're on the customer service end, take care of your customers. I know it's not the best job in the world, and we can be very difficult, but a little courtesy can easily turn a bad day into a slightly improved one.

Flush. No one needs to know what you had for dinner last night.

Say please and thank you. Please? Thank you!

=)

xoxo andrea

Redemption

source: a. singh, 2010

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors,
and let each new year find you a better man..." - Benjamin Franklin

As most people do at the cusp of the pending year, I tend to think about the last twelve months - how much I've changed, how much I've lost and how much I've gained. This year, I remember how much I've given in love, received in love and all that I've gotten in return.

I'll just be honest, my 2011 seemed to be filled with complete loss. I've lost grip with the familiar - lifelong friends, loved ones, my job - and there were times when the world looked like it was determined to press itself against me. I wondered why people did the things they did and I felt as though there was no one I could trust. When I vented my frustrations, I realize that I went into victim mode, and in turn, this transformed into guilt.

I thought I'd always look at this year as one that I'd like to put behind me. But now, with two days left in 2011, I realize that while I've lost my faith in some people and circumstances, I've simultaneously learned so much about myself in return. I've learned how resilient I really am and how well I can bounce back when life gets tough. I've also learned to stand up for myself and say no (and really meaning it this time...) I've come to really appreciate the support system I have in my life. Most importantly, I've learned what true love is. Whether it be from family, friends or a significant other, unconditional love is something that you can't value until you've hit that proverbial brick wall - when it seems like you can't go anymore in any direction. When you are difficult, irrational, and so angry at the world, yet finding that someone is still there to dry your tears or simply pick up the phone when you call. And for this unconditional love, I am grateful.

With that being said, thank you 2011, for teaching me that while things can be worse, I'm still learning how to deal with unexpected circumstances. Although I will continue to question people and fall back into familiar patterns, I still have the ability to appreciate the good along with the bad, while building trust in myself and others. Lastly, I'm lucky enough to have people in my life that remind me of this and so much more, especially when I tend to forget...