Kunle Bakare Tells 43 Elements Of Everyday Good Form, Manners, Kindness And More

Kunle Bakare, the power maker of bespoke clothes and related fashion items, Omoluwabi By KB has dropped another telling piece on good living.

The must with the header “43 elements of everyday good form, manners, kindness and more (3)” reads….

‘Love thy neighbour as thyself’ encapsulates the fundamental essence of good form, manners and kindness. The concept is the ultimate signpost of etiquette.

And most spiritual teachings highlight the significance of treating others with utmost respect, thoughtfulness and compassion as we would expect from them.

Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and more preach practising civility and charity as the cornerstone of their faiths:

o Judaism (Torah): ‘Love your neighbour as yourself – I am God.’ (Leviticus 19:18)

o Christianity (Mark 12:30-31): ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’

o Islam (Qur’an 4:36): ‘Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good – to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet)…’

o Hinduism (Mahabharata, 5,1517): ‘This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you?’

o Buddhism (Udana-Varga, 5:18): ‘Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.’

o Taoism (T’ai-Shang Kan-Ying P’ien): ‘Regard your neighbour’s gain as your own gain and your neighbour’s loss as your own loss.’

o Zoroastrianism (Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29): ‘Do not unto others what is injurious to yourself?.’

There are many ways we can live and breathe good form, manners and kindness in our everyday activities and engagements. Being civil and courteous, considerate and charitable can become second nature once we understand that whatever we do for our neighbours, we are actually doing for ourselves.

Here are 43 examples of good manners and kindness we should live and breathe every day:

1. Use polite language and avoid swear words, say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
2. Address others with respect (for example, use titles, last names)
3. Apologise when you’ve made a mistake
4. Use a respectful tone and volume
5. Make eye contact during conversations
6. Avoid interrupting others while they speak
7. Use proper phone etiquette (for example, answer and return calls and messages promptly)
8. Write thank-you notes or emails
9. Offer to help with tasks or errands
10. Donate to a good cause or charity
11. Volunteer your time or skills to help others
12. Offer a smile and a kind greeting
13. Visit someone who is sick or in the hospital
14. Donate books or clothes to those in need
15. Offer your seat to someone who needs it more
16. Hold the door for someone behind you
17. Be patient and understanding with someone who is struggling, or learning
18. Respect cultural and personal differences, religious beliefs and practices
19. Be punctual and respect other people’s time
20. Return borrowed items promptly and in good condition
21. Avoid excessive perfume or cologne
22. Keep your phone on silent mode in public
23. Don’t push or shove in public
24. Don’t litter or pollute the environment
25. Be mindful of your body language and nonverbal cues
26. Participate in community events or activities
27. Help someone who is in need or overwhelmed
28. Show gratitude and appreciation towards others
29. Avoid entitlement or demanding benefits from those at an advantage
30. Practice good hygiene and grooming
31. Continuously learn and improve yourself
32. Offer a firm but not crushing handshake
33. Address conflicts or issues in a calm and respectful manner
34. Be a good listener and show empathy
35. Avoid gossip, speaking negatively about others, or judging them
36. Don’t point out someone’s mistakes in public
37. Use a professional email address and signature
38. Wash and clean borrowed vehicles, and fill the fuel tank
39. Visit someone who is lonely, isolated, or old
40. Help someone who is lost or needs directions
41. Be respectful of others’ personal space and boundaries
42. Be open-minded and willing to learn from others
43. Show interest in others’ lives and ask thoughtful questions

Decent human beings adopt the maxim of Maya Angelou (1928–2014), the great African-American literature luminary who’s also an activist and actor, as they struggle to learn and grow and multiply traits of good form, manners and kindness: ‘Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.’

Being well-dressed counts for a lot, but it is a distant second to etiquette (which anchors and fast tracks the civilization and advancement of mankind).

-Kunle Bakare for Omoluwabi by KB (12.07.2024)