Help Me Tip the Scales Back Into Place

Let’s be clear I’m only 27 years old. But I’m about to sound like I’m 80 or 90.

What happened to the younger generations? I know, I know… I told you I’d sound old.

“Manners cost nothing” I grew up with this statement; Learning to help others and to be polite, not because you expect something in return, but because it’s the right thing to do. You say please. You say thank you. You see an elderly person struggling you offer assistance. You see a child on their own you look to make sure they’re safe. You see someone hurt you rush to help. You don’t throw rubbish on the street you find a bin. You greet people with a smile. You go through and door and hold it for the person behind you. Its common curtsy.

But nowadays? I just don’t see enough of that and I don’t see enough of what should be.

Don’t get me wrong manners haven’t completely disappeared, I do still see it and I try to practise them myself every day, I take every chance I can to do a good deed, to be respectful, to show that my parents raised me well, And yes, there are others who do the same. But not nearly as many as there should be.

I remember one day, walking down the stairs to get on a train after ours had been cancelled. We’d been redirected to another platform, Ahead of me, at the bottom of the stairs, was a little old lady struggling to let go of the banister. Why? Because a group of young people were sitting there, blocking her way. They saw her. They knew she was struggling. But they didn’t move. They didn’t offer help. What shocked me more was that everyone walking down the stairs behind me also ignored her. I’m not telling you this for a pat on the back but my instinct, without even a second’s hesitation, was to help her. I turned to her and said, “Would you like some help down the stairs?” And her face looked so grateful! Yes, I almost missed my train. But even if I had, it wouldn’t have mattered. What mattered was that she made it down the stairs and on the train safely.

Good deeds don’t have to be big they just have to be good.

I can only hope that, in the future, other parents and me, when I have children will teach our kids from the very start how important it is to do the right thing. I believe in good karma, but more importantly, I believe in doing good simply because it’s the right thing to do. Because one day, that person in need might be your grandma, your mum, your child. Your family member, your friend, yourself And wouldn’t you hope that someone would help?

If you’re reading this great. If you’re reading this and realising you haven’t always practised these values, or passed them on to your children start now. It’s never too late. There is always time to do the right thing. To help someone other than yourself. To support someone other than yourself. To be there for someone other than yourself.

Now, I’m not saying you have to put yourself aside every single time. But be the good you want to see in the world. Because right now, I think the scales have tipped too far in the wrong direction.

That’s why I wrote this piece to plant a seed in your mind: Are you doing good? Are you being good?

Help me tip the scales back. Don’t let the wrong side win!