Howdy, mister.

My first post on manners and the ways of a lady and a gentleman actually stems from my experience as a Cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. As a new Cadet, I was taught and expected to adhere to proper military courtesies. The most commonly known military courtesy in is that of the salute; when a lower-ranking person approaches an officer, he salutes him, and the officer returns the salute. This has never been understood as a sign of inferiority or servitude, but as a sign of respect for the higher person’s rank, and for the lower person’s service. As Cadets, in addition to saluting superior officers, I was also taught to give a verbal greeting, such as “good morning, sir” or “good evening, ma’am” as well. This verbal greeting, was even required in situations when I was not supposed to salute them, such as times when I was indoors or in a “no-salute zone”. No matter where I was, officers could always know that I would be acknowledging their presence, and I knew that they would always show the same respect to me in return.

The point I wish to make is that greeting people, no matter if you know them personally or not, makes a huge impact on how you are viewed. Giving a greeting to someone in passing is a simple way you can show respect for that person. By looking them in the eye and saying a friendly “hello” or “good day”, you are in fact acknowledging that they exist and that they deserve a certain degree of respect from you. Doing this makes us all a little less anonymous in this vast sea of faces and name. It helps make the world a little more pleasant, as greeting another person almost always creates a very brief, but nonetheless positive relationship between you and them. Who knows, just by acknowledging someone, you might be making their day a little more bearable against the toils and tragedies of everyday existence. So my challenge is to everyone reading this, whether you are in college or busily working in the “real world,” is for you to make an effort to greet people as you see them. Whether it is the people you pass on the way to class or the cashier working behind the counter at the gas station, everyone appreciates being acknowledged, despite how annoyed or dismissive they may seem. Resist the temptation to look at your phone or pretend you are simply staring into the distance. Make the decision to be courteous and say "hello". In the long run, you will never go wrong by being friendly. Go forth and greet some fellow countrymen!

Photo credit goes to the Providence Journal in Providence, Rhode Island