Know It
Our program defines respect as:
Live It
Each day appreciate what you value about yourself and those around you. Take time to recognize the positive attributes of the community in which you live and how community members contribute to your well being. We often focus on the few negative things we dislike about ourselves, people we know and our surroundings. We often neglect to pay tribute to all the wonder within and around us. The more time we spend focusing on the good, the less time we have for the negative.
Use the magic words, please and thank you. It never hurts to be kind and even the smallest acts of kindness show others that you care about them and how they feel. Hold a door open for someone, take turns, share, pick up litter, smile! When is the last time you paid someone a compliment? It’s a little gesture that could make a big impact on a person’s day.
Before you let your emotions or negative thoughts drive your actions, take a moment to ask yourself how you would feel if someone were to do the same to you. What would be your response if someone cut you off in traffic, if someone teased you or talked about you behind your back, if someone left rubbish on your property? It may take more effort and energy to do the right thing, but its well worth it. After all, what goes around comes around!
Teach It
Modeling respect is one of the best ways to teach it to others. Next to this method is instruction. Take time to share with children, students, athletes you coach, or even employees some ways to show respect. It may take a few reminders and some consistency on your part but they will start seeing the benefit of “honoring” others and being positive. A mother of two shared her experience teaching respect to her young son:
“My son is almost two and half and when they talk about the terrible twos, they aren’t lying. He is insistent and stubborn and is quite passionate about getting his way. I thought to myself, “what a perfect time to start teaching respect!” When he whines for what he wants I remind him to say please. If he doesn’t want something, I remind him to say “No, thank you”. I make sure that I always use these words when I speak to him. I show him respect by listening when he speaks. I hoped that he would start recognizing that it feels good when we pay positive attention to him and maybe he would do the same in return. The other day I offered him some more broccoli and instead of the loud angry no and mini tantrum I was responded to with a quite “No thank you mommy.” It was awesome! He got a huge smile from me and from the smile on his face I’m thinking he felt pretty proud of himself, too! Now he doesn’t do it every time, but we are definitely seeing progress. It takes effort on all our parts, but it is well worth it!” |
