To recap, after beginning to read the book, "Being George Washington", it reminded me of a list of rules of conduct our beloved President had made for himself that was in my possession. I am conducting an experiment of sorts, What would my life be like if I applied this set of rules?; thus "Being George Washington". If you haven't followed since the beginning, just go back three posts to catch up.
Rule #4: In the Presence of others, sing not to yourself with a humming voice, or drum with your fingers or feet.
Wow. Something so simple yet so hard NOT to do! We try to spend time with each side of our family every weekend. Sunday night is with Paul's family, Friday or Saturday night is with my parents. Since Paul has become an avid game player, that's what we do with my parents - be it canasta, domino's, or spades. (They got tired of my favorite game Blokus, cause I always win. Not to brag - but it's recommended by Mensa. Just sayin...) There are moments during every game when the conversation lulls and everyone is concentrating on their next move. This is the moment it strikes. It comes from nowhere. It's not planned. I'm not aware of it. It just happens - The humming begins.
Interjection: I can't find the clip, but it reminds me of one of my favorite movies, About a Boy in which the young boy is talking to Hugh Grant's character about how no one likes him and mentions that during class he just started singing out loud the song that was playing in his head. Hugh Grant declares, "Well, that's not a brilliant, idea - now is it?" The boy's response, "I can't help it!" <----- (Yes, my ADD struck again.)
I believe some of us are predetermined natural hummers, it comes as instinct. It's not something one sets out to do purposefully. However, I understand why George highly recommends not do it in the presence of others. In my case, it drives my father crazy, but being his daughter I am allowed to get away with things others wouldn't and thus start humming louder.
As far as drumming your fingers or feet - I don't do this, so don't have much to say about the matter. I do recall in high school it was a habit of mine to drum my fingers, but it was done on purpose. I would practice playing my flute during a class I was bored in. I just used the desk in place of my flute. Those days are long gone and the habit as well.
On second thought, I do like to snap pens... but since he didn't mention them, it doesn't count. (regardless of whether or not pens existed then!)
My advice: If you catch yourself humming in public, stop or lower your voice. You may be irritating those around you who are not so disposed to accepting your lovely humming sound. Keep your tapping, drumming, snapping to times by yourself or with those that do it with you - you know, like in those Kit Kat commercials.
Rule #5: If you cough, sneeze, sigh or yawn, do it not loud but privately, and speak not in your yawning, but put your handkerchief or hand before your face and turn aside.
Sneeze not loudly, but privately? That's like asking lightning to strike behind the mountain and for the thunder that follows to only whisper. Again, I am wondering what kind of man could be so disposed, so disciplined as to control his sneezing? Granted, some people have cute little sneezes. Unfortunately, others - myself included are not so gifted.
I've got the yawning thing down! I remember in my teens, a good friend joined a music group that toured nationwide. While on stage, they were not allowed to yawn so he told me he learned to yawn while keeping his mouth closed. This impressed and intrigued me so much that I tried it myself and mastered the technique! So now I can say, "Boo-Yah! Mr. Washington - can you do that?" Of course, I really wouldn't. Being that disrespectful really would defeat the purpose of Being George Washington, now wouldn't it?
My conclusion: Do what is possible to keep coughing, sneezing, sighing and yawning to a quiet minimum while around others. I reminded that in all of these rules, the priority is to always put the people you are with before yourself. When in private, let it blow!
Next Week: Rules 6-8
Rule #6. Sleep not when others speak, sit not when others stand, speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not on when others stop.
Rule #7. Put not off your clothes in the presence of others, nor go out of your chamber half dressed.
Rule #8. At play and attire, it's good manners to give place to the last comer, and affect not to speak louder than ordinary.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Being George Washington - Week 1
Being George Washington - The Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.
Week 1
1. Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.
This Rule by good ole George slightly confused me. My parents taught me to always be respectful, as I am positive George's parents did to. So did this rule only confirm his upbringing, or was there more to it... some unspoken words and knowing what they meant without him having to say it? Did this apply to some custom that was more normal in his day and has become lost over time? Instead of continuing to try to get into his head or travel through time, I decided to just do what I thought best. Continue being polite. Don't interrupt others. After all, being respectful of others is simply realizing you are not the only human in the world and to put those other humans before yourself.
2. When in company, put not your hands to any part of the body not usually discovered.
This makes me laugh- I can't help it. I think of little boys... Why? Because I have one. Although he is growing up and maturing, the memories of my son's nude escapades will always amuse me. There was a reason he held the title of the "Church Nudist" or the "Church Stripper" at the ripe age of 2. However, I don't think that's what Washington meant, which only makes me wonder (and cringe) "What did he mean?" Part of the body not usually discovered... My first thought are parts more private..come on - you thought it too! On the other hand - or in this case, body part- it could be as simple as not lifting your pant leg up to scratch your ankle. I saw someone scratching and picking at something underneath their shirt sleeve the other day... kinda grossed me out. My conclusion for this rule is: If it itches, go somewhere private to scratch it! Don't gross everyone out!
3. Show nothing to your friend that may affright him.
I really didn't know what I was going to do with this one, then through an unexpected experience, it came to me. Recently, a fellow employee resigned. Part of his sending off party was to wear fake mustaches in honor of his. Being always ready for a challenge, my dear friend and cousin Ashley and I held a little contest to see who would wear theirs the longest. I really didn't think anything of this, since I sit in my cubicle without anyone but fellow employees seeing me, which they already had. That day proved to be different. Not only did people come by, they came to see me! As soon as I turned around and they saw me, everyone would jump in shock. I did not do this on purpose, I was not warned of their coming! Now this was all done in good humor and everyone had a good laugh at it, which makes me wonder why George found this rule to be of necessity. I have no conclusion for this one. Just more questions...
Did he not like a good joke? Did it anger him when someone jumped out from a tree and spooked him? Or does he mean something else?
In next week's blog, I will report on Rules 4-5, which are:
4. In the presence of others, sing not to yourself with a humming voice, or drum with your fingers or feet.
5. If you cough, sneeze, sigh or yawn, do it not loud but privately, and speak not in your yawning, but put your handkerchief or hand before your face and turn aside.
Week 1
1. Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.
This Rule by good ole George slightly confused me. My parents taught me to always be respectful, as I am positive George's parents did to. So did this rule only confirm his upbringing, or was there more to it... some unspoken words and knowing what they meant without him having to say it? Did this apply to some custom that was more normal in his day and has become lost over time? Instead of continuing to try to get into his head or travel through time, I decided to just do what I thought best. Continue being polite. Don't interrupt others. After all, being respectful of others is simply realizing you are not the only human in the world and to put those other humans before yourself.
2. When in company, put not your hands to any part of the body not usually discovered.
This makes me laugh- I can't help it. I think of little boys... Why? Because I have one. Although he is growing up and maturing, the memories of my son's nude escapades will always amuse me. There was a reason he held the title of the "Church Nudist" or the "Church Stripper" at the ripe age of 2. However, I don't think that's what Washington meant, which only makes me wonder (and cringe) "What did he mean?" Part of the body not usually discovered... My first thought are parts more private..come on - you thought it too! On the other hand - or in this case, body part- it could be as simple as not lifting your pant leg up to scratch your ankle. I saw someone scratching and picking at something underneath their shirt sleeve the other day... kinda grossed me out. My conclusion for this rule is: If it itches, go somewhere private to scratch it! Don't gross everyone out!
3. Show nothing to your friend that may affright him.
I really didn't know what I was going to do with this one, then through an unexpected experience, it came to me. Recently, a fellow employee resigned. Part of his sending off party was to wear fake mustaches in honor of his. Being always ready for a challenge, my dear friend and cousin Ashley and I held a little contest to see who would wear theirs the longest. I really didn't think anything of this, since I sit in my cubicle without anyone but fellow employees seeing me, which they already had. That day proved to be different. Not only did people come by, they came to see me! As soon as I turned around and they saw me, everyone would jump in shock. I did not do this on purpose, I was not warned of their coming! Now this was all done in good humor and everyone had a good laugh at it, which makes me wonder why George found this rule to be of necessity. I have no conclusion for this one. Just more questions...
Did he not like a good joke? Did it anger him when someone jumped out from a tree and spooked him? Or does he mean something else?
In next week's blog, I will report on Rules 4-5, which are:
4. In the presence of others, sing not to yourself with a humming voice, or drum with your fingers or feet.
5. If you cough, sneeze, sigh or yawn, do it not loud but privately, and speak not in your yawning, but put your handkerchief or hand before your face and turn aside.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Being George Washington
First of all, I can't even look at that title without thinking of the movie Being John Malkovich. Whew, now that I have that out of my system, I will go into detail what "Being George Washington" means to me.
Back-flash, a few years ago: Paul - my husband, came home from work with a list of rules that George Washington made for himself. It's titled The Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. While we thoroughly enjoyed reading through these rules, after some time they were put in a pile of things that are never seen from again, you know - the household black hole, where things are put and never seen or heard from again.
Forward in time, but still back-flash to last week: Paul enjoys listening to audible books. For those who know me well will realize that this usually doesn't bode well for me. Blame it on ADD if you will, but I prefer to think of it more as being too preoccupied in an higher altered state of consciousness to be bothered with mindless chatter. (Unfortunately, that argument only works well in certain situations.) For my benefit when we are together in the car, Paul chooses books that will be more of an interest to us both, which I greatly appreciate.
So, back to last week, we started Glenn Beck's new book titled, "Being George Washington". We're only on chapter 1, but it already had me thinking of the list of rules he had made and wondering where I had put my copy. (Thankfully Paul kept his on file, like the sweet organized man that he is.) Now, follow my rabbit trail here - I began to question what it would be like to take these rules and conscientiously apply them to my everyday life, then decided it would be fun to write about it.
This is my game plan, and how fitting it should start the month of Presidents Day. I didn't even plan that on purpose. In total, there are 110 rules, for as long as it takes, I will apply a few of these rules each week until I have gone through the list in its entirety. While some of these rules seem simple, I find a profoundness to them, some of these rules will be very challenging, some will be humorous while some are downright confounding. I will blog about each rule; what it means to me and how I went about it, and how successful, or unsuccessful I was in my results.
In next week's blog, I will report on Rules 1-3, which are:
1. Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.
2. When in company, put not your hands to any part of the body not usually discovered.
3. Show nothing to your friend that may affright him.
If you feel so inspired to join me in this challenge of "Being George Washington", please comment on each week's blog. I would love to see how "Being George Washington" affects you and/or those around you!
Back-flash, a few years ago: Paul - my husband, came home from work with a list of rules that George Washington made for himself. It's titled The Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. While we thoroughly enjoyed reading through these rules, after some time they were put in a pile of things that are never seen from again, you know - the household black hole, where things are put and never seen or heard from again.
Forward in time, but still back-flash to last week: Paul enjoys listening to audible books. For those who know me well will realize that this usually doesn't bode well for me. Blame it on ADD if you will, but I prefer to think of it more as being too preoccupied in an higher altered state of consciousness to be bothered with mindless chatter. (Unfortunately, that argument only works well in certain situations.) For my benefit when we are together in the car, Paul chooses books that will be more of an interest to us both, which I greatly appreciate.
So, back to last week, we started Glenn Beck's new book titled, "Being George Washington". We're only on chapter 1, but it already had me thinking of the list of rules he had made and wondering where I had put my copy. (Thankfully Paul kept his on file, like the sweet organized man that he is.) Now, follow my rabbit trail here - I began to question what it would be like to take these rules and conscientiously apply them to my everyday life, then decided it would be fun to write about it.
This is my game plan, and how fitting it should start the month of Presidents Day. I didn't even plan that on purpose. In total, there are 110 rules, for as long as it takes, I will apply a few of these rules each week until I have gone through the list in its entirety. While some of these rules seem simple, I find a profoundness to them, some of these rules will be very challenging, some will be humorous while some are downright confounding. I will blog about each rule; what it means to me and how I went about it, and how successful, or unsuccessful I was in my results.
In next week's blog, I will report on Rules 1-3, which are:
1. Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.
2. When in company, put not your hands to any part of the body not usually discovered.
3. Show nothing to your friend that may affright him.
If you feel so inspired to join me in this challenge of "Being George Washington", please comment on each week's blog. I would love to see how "Being George Washington" affects you and/or those around you!
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