Do your best to be a good person all day; every day. Be the kind of person that you wish everyone else was. It's hypocritical to complain about the way that other people behave if you act the same way. Start by wearing a smile instead of a frown. Even a smirk will do. It's contagious. Be friendly and complimentary of people. Say kind things whether they are deserved or not. Be the first person to speak when you encounter someone new, whether it's a salesperson or a random stranger that you pass in the grocery store. People are affected by compliments, whether they acknowledge it outwardly or not. A kind and gentle word from you can make a world of difference to someone who is having an otherwise bad day. Do the same thing for your family and friends. Pick something about that person; their appearance or something good about their character, and give them a little praise or just tell them how much you appreciate them.
Stay aware of your surroundings. Each time you walk through a doorway look ahead and then behind you and hold the door for the next person. Let people with fewer items ahead of you while waiting in a check-out line. Always watch where you are going so that you don't bump into people and be sure to look behind you when you're walking backwards. If you are pushing a shopping cart around a store, park it in strategic ways so that it will not block other people who wish to pass. If someone near you drops something, pick it up and give it back to them. Offer to help children, the elderly, or those with limited abilities to reach something on a high shelf or to carry something that is too heavy for them to handle.
Drive like every car around you is transporting someone you care about. Don't cut people off or give nasty hand gestures. Give people, especially motorcycles plenty of room by allowing a safe following distance. When you stop in a line of traffic, be sure not to block entrances and exits. Leave enough space for people to pass. Drive slow and safe through parking lots and if you see people about to cross in front of you, allow a few extra seconds for them to cross safely. Don't try to speed up and get by before they step in front of you. When parking your car, check before you walk away from it to see if you are parked correctly. Use your horn only in the worst scenarios. If people around you do stupid things, take a deep breath and forgive them rather than acting out on your anger to make sure they get your point.
Don't talk louder then you need to in restaurants or stores. Do not use foul language in public unless you are seriously injured and then it's forgivable in small doses. Do not talk on your mobile phone while performing a business transaction. This includes sales counters and drive thru's. If your phone rings during a transaction, silence it, wait until you're done and then return the call. If you are a smoker, be courteous of other people and choose the places you smoke carefully. I realized soon after I quit smoking just how bad second hand smoke imposes on non-smokers. Don't leave messes for other people to clean up. This includes restaurants, restrooms, stores, and other people's homes.
Set a good example by following these simple suggestions and you could influence more people than you'll ever realize. People may even imitate some of your good habits unintentionally. Even the most minor improvements are a step in the right direction. Learning to truly forgive is the best thing you can do to help you stay on the right track.
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