| In a recent Wall Street Journal editorial, columnist | | | | buses, and in our own vehicles--manners also |
| Peggy Noonan discussed the disappearance of | | | | communicate respect and safety. They provide |
| manners in our culture. The article was provoked | | | | structure in an otherwise high-speed, pressurized |
| by news stories of Steven Slater, the JetBlue | | | | world--a structure that helps us stop before we |
| flight attendant whose claim to fame is the | | | | do harm. Manners elevate the user and the |
| rudeness with which he addressed passengers at | | | | receiver, and represent who we are as a person, |
| their arrival gate before taking the emergency | | | | team, community, or society. |
| chute to the tarmac and driving home. Peggy's | | | | In return, when we feel etiquette has been |
| article got me thinking about manners, ki | | | | breached, we can speak up. Yes, it takes time |
| moments, and the contribution we each make in | | | | and clarity of intention to create an intentional |
| creating our culture. | | | | culture, but I feel more energized, not less, when |
| Manners do seem in short supply.The culture shift | | | | I'm respectful and ask for respect, whether it be |
| is often blamed on frayed nerves, economic | | | | from the home repairman, my family, or my |
| pressure, new cultural models that view | | | | coworker. |
| "manners" as old-fashioned, and the fast pace of | | | | I think Steven Slater had a rough time that day. |
| technology. | | | | But he missed a Ki Moment. By acting in a |
| In Aikido, etiquette represents respect and | | | | courteous manner, I think he could have shown |
| safety. Because the martial arts are by nature | | | | everyone on that airplane how to be safe, |
| physical and because we can inadvertently injure, | | | | respectful, and powerful. And he would have |
| we place a great deal of importance on observing | | | | elevated all who witnessed the exchange. He |
| dojo (school) norms, such as thanking and bowing | | | | might not have made headlines, but then true |
| to each other frequently and deliberately. We | | | | power often does not. |
| remind each other--and ourselves--of our | | | | Each culture has its own etiquette. What |
| positive intent. Proper etiquette is a distinguishing | | | | contributes to safety and respect in your |
| characteristic of a good dojo. | | | | workplace? In your home? How do you help |
| In everyday life off the mat--in our homes, | | | | co-create your environment, and how can you |
| schools, and workplaces, on airplanes, trains, | | | | invite more intention around these ideas? |