Received wisdom

Today, someone put the ‘phone down on me and it was rather a shock! My call was not unsolicited; I had been invited previously to call back. However, I had only just introduced myself and asked if it was a convenient time to speak when there was the distinct click as the receiver was put firmly down. There is something very cold about a dead ‘phone line when you are left holding a piece of equipment that is no longer functioning. It is as if you have been summarily dismissed by the other person. I retraced my words and decided that it was my name that caused the problem. I imagined the receiver coming away from the recipient’s ear and descending downwards by the time I said the word “convenient”. The whole episode got me thinking about politeness. Had he been polite? Not really, would it have hurt him to be polite for a couple of minutes? It is a character trait that is often undervalued especially in this world of short and often terse texts and emails. Many people just cannot find the time to give someone five minutes of their attention. There is nothing worse than being at a conference or party and the other person is talking to you but constantly looking over your shoulder for someone better, or more advantageous, to chat with! Today was just a one off incident. Mainly, I come into contact with people who are kind and polite and make you feel that although they are very busy and their time may be valuable you are worthy of that time. I think that you in turn are then respectful of them. When someone opens a door for you, or vice versa, when someone says please and thank you it makes a difference. If someone fills the photocopier with paper for you, changes the water bottle on the water machine it makes a difference. Our lives may just touch someone else’s for a brief moment, but we can choose whether we are mutually enriched, or not.