Friday, January 18, 2013

TALK TO THE HAND, I HAVE A COLD By Yvonne

The other night, I went to greet someone at a dinner party I hadn't seen in a while. My arms were wide opened, I was smiling.  She said, “Don’t come near me, I don’t want to give you my cold." I had no intention of giving a French kiss, or going anywhere near her lips. I was planning on a good old-fashioned cosmopolitan air kiss. I know she didn’t mean it but "talk to the hand" gesture put me off a bit.


She sat down with her drink and dug into a bowl of small crackers.  She didn’t say anything to the crackers, nor to us and of course, crackers don’t talk. So, I spoke for all of us in the room and in the bowl, “You'll probably pass your cold to us by tucking into the bowl of crackers," I said with a chuckle.

We’ve all,  and definitely with good intentions, avoided someone’s friendly greeting by pushing out our hand in a gesture of protection. If you have a cold and you think you’re that contagious, why are you out?

Did you tell the bartender that you had a cold when he picked up your glass? Did you touch doorknobs and ring bells? Did you tell the taxi driver not to touch your money because you have a cold? Did you not shake hands at the networking party?

I have a confession. I have had a cold and hugged friends and relatives. I haven’t heard a sick report because it wasn’t the nasty, drippy cold. Had it been, I would’ve stayed home.

There’s has to be a better way to protect people you care about without making them feel like you don’t care about them. I like air kisses myself and plenty of soap and water.

At the end of the dinner party, The Cold Lady gave each and everyone of us a big, hearty hug! So far, no cold reports.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

IN 2013 WHY DON’T WE TRY AND STOP…


 
1.     Placing our cell phones on the table as we sit down to enjoy a meal with friends and family.  What could be more important and if so, why not stay home?
2.     Holding our knives and forks poorly to avoid looking like toddlers at the table.
3.     Slamming into people while texting or talking in the street.
4.     Spitting in public. It’s plain nasty.
5.     Giving underhanded compliments and apologies.
6.     Posting pictures on social media sites without asking permission.
7.     Eating and drinking on public transportation.  Who wants to wear your coffee?
8.     Yawning without covering our mouth. Nothing worse than a whiff of someone else’s bad breath.
9.      Letting children get away with poor manners.
10. Letting adults get away with poor manners because they got away with them as children.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Minding Your Business Etiquette

The Fashion Institute of Technology asked us about the business of etiquette in the office.  Here's the Q&A featured in HUE, the school's magazine.