Being George Washington - Week 6

A continuation of my social experiment of incorporating a set of rules George Washington himself used and obviously helped define him into being the great man who helped shape our nation.

15. Keep your nails clean and short, also your hands and teeth clean, yet without showing any great concern for them.

Well, in my defense, I believe this rule is meant for men.  I am not going to cut my nails.  The purpose of this rules goes beyond nail length however.  We live in a time and age where personal hygiene is a given.  We all know to comb our hair, brush our teeth and clean under our fingernails.  Yet the key point is the last part of this sentence, "yet without showing any great concern for them."  This rule is warning against vanity, conceit, and in some respects - selfishness.

I have been blessed with naturally curly hair.  It has been a topic of conversation since I was a little girl and strangers would ask my mother if they could buy me candy because I was so cute.  (yeah - I was that cute.)  Throughout my life, strangers have stopped me to compliment my hair.  It just happens and I am used to it.  Recently, while at my mother's house during an event she was hosting, I had my back turned to someone as I heard them say, "I love your hair!"  Without even thinking twice, I responded with a sweet thank you  (I know I'm awesome subliminally included) ...  only to hear back, "Oh, I wasn't talking to you."  I was momentarily stunned.  Talk about open mouth - insert foot!  I laughed at my own folly and made a mental note to take a large slice of humble pie. 

16. Do not puff up the cheeks, loll not out the tongue with the hands or beard, thrust out the lips or bite them, or keep the lips too open or too close.

Huh??  I really need some help with this one.  I'm stumped.  Any thoughts?  I have quite an assortment of mental images as I read all that and yes they are all disturbing, but have no personal experience or dealing with this one. 

17. Be no flatterer, neither play with any that delight not to be played withal.

Be no flatterer -  Ahhh....  Insincerity.  I immediately think of sales people.  (sorry - prejudicial choice, I know)  Insincerity may get you into society or professional positions that you want, but it will never keep you there.  Eventually you will be found out and then lose all those "friends" you made along the way.

Personally, I am a sucker for a compliment.  (read rule 15 again..lol)  It takes wisdom and intuition to decipher between sincere appreciation and insincere flattery.  Some years ago while shopping at the mall, I was stopped by a sales person at a kiosk.  I now know to avoid them like the plague, but I suffered a moment of stupidity and was drawn in like a moth to the flame.  Drawn in even further when he started complimenting me.  I walked away purchasing a nail care set not only for me, but all my sisters, sister-in-laws and mothers as well!  I was one big sucker for sure.  That experience made me realize how valuable words are to me and how to avoid in the future that being used against me!

Next Blog:  Rules 18 - 20


18. Read no letter, books, or papers in company, but when there is a necessity for the doing of it, you must ask leave; come not near the books or writings of another so as to read them unless desired, or give your opinion of them unasked. Also look not nigh when another is writing a letter.

19. Let your countenance be pleasant but in serious matters somewhat grave.

20. The gestures of the body must be suited to the discourse you are upon.