Living In A Vacuum: It's Not ALL About You.

I took today off from work. Although business has become slow and I really did have so much paperwork to do, I was hankering for some 'me' time.

I decided to head out to the mall and hang out at Barnes & Noble (my favorite store), peruse the shelves, get lost in the magazine rack, and sip on a warm soy latte. It was going to be a great day! Wrong. As I drive into the over-packed shopping mall (doesn't anybody work anymore?--oh right, thanks Wall Street) I am instantly reminded how selfish most people are. Have you ever noticed how rules just don't apply to most rudies (rude people). They double park their cars, pull out of spots without checking traffic, cross walkways without turning their heads in both directions, talk on their cell phones constantly, never move aside as you approach them with handfuls of bags, march by at neck-breaking speeds without as much as an "excuse me" when they crash into your shoulder...and hold the door open for you? Good Luck!

What exactly happened to good ole' home training? My parents raised me to be kind and considerate. Be nice to old people, say "God Bless You" when someone sneezes, respect the earth--don't litter. What the hell happened to civil society? To parenting? To politeness??

School Is In Session:

• You don't live in a vacuum: believe it or not, you exist on this planet with other breathing, warm-blooded beings called humans. Do yourself a favor and try to coexist with them. Being mindful of these creatures might bring about feelings of jubilation, a grounding-togetherness some of us find peaceful and normal. Reaching out and communicating may create new connections in your brain, supplying more oxygen and longevity to your own wellbeing.

• Acts of kindness: you don't have to smile all the time (that would be insane) but kindness is mandatory here on planet Earth. Do you have peripheral vision? Can you sense when other people are near? If you answered yes, then hold the door open for them when they're behind you. Help an elderly person cross the street. Wait your turn. Be a good listener and know when to just shut up. Teach a child to be nice to animals and say I love you...and learn to mean it.

• Friendships & Communication: If you're reading this then you're keenly aware of social networking sites. Did you know people are spending less time going out and socializing? Do you know how many children are suffering because their entire social ladder-climbing existence revolves around how many 'friends' they have on Face Book? Have you ever looked on your Face Book wall and wondered why a friend or family member doesn't participate on your "wall" but will comment and click the "like" button on everything another family or friend posts? Hello? Rude. If you're going to request friendship from someone, whether it be at work, at school, or on a social networking site--please do your part and work on nourishing that connection.

These are but a drop from the scum bucket of annoying rude behavior I have collected. What have your experiences been and what tips or remedies have you used to eradicate the rudies in your life?