Some are born great... some have greatness thrust upon them – William Shakespeare
Ease, convenience and common sense are the three pillars upon which etiquette rests. And who doesn’t wish to have a gentle, proper and sensible friend?
Your manners are your showpiece to others. In poet Goethe’s words, the mirror reflecting your portrait.
If you are interested, we can start a journey together to discover a secret that has been lost: etiquette.
We will venture to master its power and learn its virtues.
In the wilderness of prehistory, the human race was weak. It was so because our forefathers acted individually. They spent the whole day hunting for food. When they were not successful, they starved.
But by co-operating with others, our progenitors were more successful at hunting. The crucial question to them was: could they trust the strangers who helped them hunt their dinner? So, customs governing behaviour (etiquette) were adopted to ensure future collaboration.
Tribes formed and some of them eventually founded cities and civilisations. Did life become more colourful, or not?
Today’s cities are more like concrete jungles. It has become difficult just to go to work. Traffic, tension and troubles can be overwhelming. A bad encounter in the morning can ruin the rest of our day. Navigation etiquette can help.
In public large areas, such as a street, or in a confined space like an elevator, unnecessary eye contact should be avoided. On stairs, lifts and moving walkways, keep to the right because the left is reserved for those in a hurry.
When on the sidewalk, leave some space between you and the person in front of you. Never stop suddenly (if you have to, slow down and go where there is space) and be careful when turning around corners.
Etiquette is like a martial art, similar to judo, a gentle way through which a smaller opponent can win over a brute. It is a soft power that wins friends because of its virtue.
Mastering this art will bring out your inner elegance, give you a proper posture, assist you in digesting better, help you eat the right amount and facilitate your choice of quality food.
In public large areas, such as a street, or in a confined space like an elevator, unnecessary eye contact should be avoided
You will have confidence, which is difficult to master, and with good reason. Genes, circumstances or luck give some boys and girls the golden touch from birth. For a time, the world is theirs for the taking. Others are catapulted into celebrity by connections or chance. Their downfall could be equally quick.
For the rest of us who are bombarded with the achievements of others, we might feel trapped, in the dark or even crushed.
But like diamonds in their infancy, some of us refuse to break and by discovering the secret of etiquette, reveal our true selves. An opening appears. We emerge bright, beautiful and bold.
Welcome on your journey to a cultured lifestyle. We can now fill in the missing blank in Shakespeare’s quote: “...some achieve greatness”.
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Kristian Bonnici is the founder and chief executive of Diplomatic Envoy Consultancy.