EADS: A kind word turneth away aggravation | Opinion | gainesvilleregister.com – Gainesville Daily Register

You may have seen the pictures on todays front page from the United Way award luncheon at the Gainesville Civic Center.

The place was full of people who organized fundraisers in their workplaces over the last year to benefit very worthy causes around Cooke County, including Abigails Arms, CASA of North Texas, Cooke County Junior Livestock Show, Meals on Wheels of Texoma, Muenster Youth Council and a couple dozen more.

The 2022 campaign was a big success, netting over $350,000 to be turned into grants next year for the participating agencies. Everyone who participated should be proud, as pulling in that kind of money in the midst of a pandemic and topsy-turvy economy is unabashedly good work.

These noble efforts are going to help some of our neighbors and thats not nothing; however, its easy to say how wonderful these efforts are, then forget about them until next years awards luncheon. We often look at groups like the United Way and its member agencies and content ourselves that everything that can reasonably be done is being done.

But thats not really the case, is it?

Dont panic: Im not suggesting that you dig deeper into your pockets or pay more taxes. Give more if you can, by all means, but what Im getting at is more subtle.

I am suggesting that you (and I) could do more to make Cooke County a better place by doing more of the little things to take some sting out of day-to-living:

Try saying Please and Thank you all the time, and not just when youre in a good mood;

Dont get mad when the other person fails to say Youre welcome;

Dont lash out at cashiers and waitresses because youre having a crappy day;

Open doors for other people not just old ladies;

Dont stare at your phone when someone is trying to talk to you;

Turn down whatever it is youre watching when someone is trying to talk to you on the phone;

Dont join a long line at a drive-thru, then honk your horn because its taking so long;

Stay off your phone when youre driving as in dont hold it or look at it or talk on it;

Dont take everything you read on Facebook as the Gospel Truth and reject out-of-hand any assertions to the contrary;

Give the all caps and exclamation points a rest when youre texting or emailing or on social media. TRY TO MAKE YOUR POINT WITHOUT THROWING TANTRUMS!!!!!!

Being polite is not a sign of weakness, nor is it an invitation for someone to get over on you in some petty way. Your mother raised to be polite for a reason.

Will any of these suggestions cure cancer? No, of course not. They could, however, spare you and the people you come across every day a little bit of aggravation, one less thing to drag home at night after a long day at work.

Im not a churchgoer, but I do believe in the Golden Rule. Ive seen too many good turns in my life that have inspired others to better things. I choose not to pout every single time something doesnt go my way. I think I and the people in my life are better off for it, however slightly.

Give it a try, please.

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EADS: A kind word turneth away aggravation | Opinion | gainesvilleregister.com - Gainesville Daily Register