Watch Where You’re Standing!

Watch Where You’re Standing! - Robert Rohm - / -

Each week I try to make these Tips as practical, applicable and useable as possible. Most of this information comes out of my own personal experience and daily life. I make an effort each day to keep my eyes and ears open so that I can learn something new. I find that if I actually anticipate learning something, I usually do. It is a fact of life that you typically find what you are looking for. I am always looking for practical information that will help my life, as well as the lives of others. Since I consider you my friends, I thought I would pass this “tidbit” along to you.

I have noticed that people do not pay much attention to where they are standing. I do not say that in a critical or unkind manner - I just think that it is something that most people have not thought about very much. If you will notice, the next time you are in an auditorium, a restaurant, an airport, a store, at church or a hundred and one other places, people seem to stop and stand wherever they want with little thought of the other people around them. I realize it is a person’s right to stand wherever they would like, but everyone around them would benefit from a little bit of thoughtfulness and the use of some manners. Let me explain further.

I am astounded at how many people stop right in a doorway or middle of the aisle in the grocery store and carry on a conversation with their friends. I have seen people in an auditorium stop and gather at an exit, blocking the flow of traffic. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be friendly and talk to other people, but how hard would it be to be just a little thoughtful and step out of the way so that others could pass by? I have also seen people ride up an escalator and simply stop after they have taken a couple of steps off of it, seemingly oblivious to the fact that other people are coming up the escalator right behind them! And, I have watched people get off of elevators and then stop to have a conversation with their friends before moving out of the way. Again, how hard would it be to ask yourself one simple question, “Am I blocking the flow of traffic?”

This could also apply to driving. Unfortunately, many of us tend to be pre-occupied with other things when we are driving. I know I have been guilty of that myself. Rather than slowing down everyone else, why not move to the side or pull into a parking lot to finish a phone conversation or a text? That would be the more considerate thing to do and it may prevent a serious accident from occurring.

And, that is what this all boils down to - whether we are considerate or rude. I am not trying to be unkind to anyone, but if this shoe fits, then we need to own it and wear it. And yes, that would include me!

I have begun to make it a habit to observe what is going on around me. After I place my order at a fast food restaurant counter, I step out of the way. When I am at the airport, I move next to a wall so that I am not blocking someone else’s path. I am constantly assessing how I can get out of the way in order to make someone’s day go a little better by showing some consideration. It makes me feel better to know I am being thoughtful throughout the day. It also leads me to be thoughtful in other areas of my life because practicing thoughtfulness in one area usually bleeds over into other areas as well. But, the greatest benefit of all is that it helps other people have a little bit better day. They may not even be aware of it, but I can assure you that if things went wrong or if they were slowed down too much by your unthoughtfulness, they would notice it! Therefore, I try to do as much preventative maintenance as possible. It simply all goes back to being thoughtful and considerate.

This may seem like a minor issue to you, but now that I have raised it, you are going to become more aware of its prevalence. You are also going to be shocked at how thoughtless many people really are. It never crosses their mind to exercise some kindness and move aside so that they make things easier for other people.

As I mentioned in the beginning, these Tips are meant to be practical and usable. I don’t know of anything that is more practical than this particular Tip. Practice it for the next seven days and watch what happens. You will be a better person for your actions and everybody else will benefit from your kindness whether they realize it or not!

Tip: Watch where you’re standing! Have a great week! God bless you! Dr. Robert A. Rohm

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