Courtesy is free. Why not give it?

According to a definition from Oxford Languages, courtesy is the showing of politeness in one's attitude and behavior toward others.

Similar words related to courtesy are politeness, good manners, civility, respect, kindness, thoughtfulness and many other words.

Seeing the definition and the related words for courtesy, one thing lies in common. Courtesy is not a luxury. It won't cost us anything. Courtesy is for free. So what's stopping is to extend courtesy to others?

You might think that you are already courteous but I am sure that there are instances and situations where we failed to perform courtesy. So here are some of my personal experiences and observations wherein I think that most people failed to perform courtesy.

1. Courtesy to salespeople

When you buy something, even at a sari-sari store, grocery store, supermarket, mall, restaurants and many other establishments wherein salespeople is involved, do you always say thank you for their service?

As you go out from the store or as you receive the products you buy do you always give your thanks to the salesman?

Maybe sometimes, but mostly not most of the time.

We have our small business, it's a store and technically, i'm acting or working as a saleslady in there. Most of our avid customers always bid their thanks as they go out from our store, but it's not all of them. And most of our walk-in customers didn't even know how to say thank you.

Most of them just go in the store, and even with the nice service that we have or I have provided for them, they just walk out of our store like nothing happened. There's no response even if I said my thanks to them. Isn't it just polite to reply?

Another thing, this applies to both sides. Many customers don't say thanks or any other act of courtesy to sellers. But as a customer myself who often buy to grocery stores for our necessities, I noticed that there are so many sellers who doesn't even know to say thank you to their customers. After the sales, product were served, and it ends right there in then. As long as they served their products, they don't even care about the customer anymore.

As to myself, as a both seller and buyer, it became my hobby or rather a part of my lifestyle to extend courtesy at all times in terms of sales. I never forget to say my thanks to our customers and I also never forget to bid my thank you to every sellers that have provided me service. Even though there are some of them that are rude and not really nice, let's not forget to show a simple courtesy such as saying thanks or even just showing them a smile.

1. Courtesy in public transportation

I don't usually commute or ride a public transportation but every time I ride one, especially on jeepneys, it's saddening but I see a lot of people or the passengers lacking of courtesy.

For instance, in a jeepney setting, we usually ask the person next to us to extend our payment to the jeepney driver. If we have a change, they are also the one who'll give it back to us.

Back to courtesy, I just noticed that when extending transportation fare, some of the passengers will just poke the person next to them as they extend their payments. Some of them don't even talk nicely like saying "makikiabot nga po ng bayad" (can you extend my payment please?) Nice words are missing. The word please is missing and the supposed to be request turns into a command. It's like the person next to them is tasked to extend their payment.

Some are just like that. No talking, just poking. No please and thank you. And it's really saddening. To not contribute on this, if ever that you are riding public transportation, can you and will you put saying please and thank you into practice at all times? I am hoping that you can do this.

1. Courtesy to tricycle drivers

I know that there's a lot of tricycle drivers who always cat-calls but it's not all of them. As they say "sakay na miss", "sasakay ka ba miss", and many other words, I think they are just trying to make a living.

I observed that when they say that, almost all people ignores them. Maybe because they are not going to ride their tricycle, I guess. But even though we won't ride at their tricycle, let's not just ignore those hardworking people who's just trying to make a living.

A simple smile, a simple shake of our head or answering them a simple no will do as a sign of courtesy. Let's not make them look like they are talking to the air. Pay attention to them.

1. Courtesy to security guards

Working as a security guard is so hard. And I salute them for nailing their work. I salute them for they can still offer us smiles and greetings even though they are tired from their shift.

On establishments, it is usually the security guards that we will see. And those guard never failed to offer a smile and greet good morning, good afternoon and good evening. They are amazing. But not all people respond to them. Most people don't pay attention. I noticed how they just passed over the security guards like they didn't hear a thing.

I think i'll end it here for now. And by the way, I am not talking to people here in general. I'm not saying that all people are like this. It's just my observation on my surroundings.

Anyway, to sum it all up, just like what i've said on the beginning of this article, it wouldn't require us to spend a luxury to extend courtesy. It doesn't have a cost and it couldn't be bought.

Courtesy is free and should be given free.

What can we do to perform courtesy?

A simple response will do. A smile will do. Saying please and thank you will do.

Showing courtesy doesn't need to be extravagant. You can show courtesy in doing simple things and in small ways.

As I end this article, let me share to you a few lines from a nursery rhymes.

Please and thank you

Please and thank you

These are the nice words you can say.

Please and thank you

Please and thank you

Say them everywhere.

I hope the message is clear. Please and thank you is so basic. So simple. We teach it at kids, but may we be reminded of this as an adult.

Let's say them everywhere!

=)