How we should treat our family, new acquaintances, and even people we just met is something I have been trying to figure out for awhile. My current solution, or default setting, is to treat everyone like royalty.
This does not mean becoming a “yes man” or “doormat”. While it might seem that is what I am saying, read on. If a Queen is talking to you, or you are often in her presence, that means you must be on, or at least close to her social level (and since there is no caste system this is true, you’re royal too! :D).
This means you should act in a way which commands and exudes respect i.e. not being a total jester, in this metaphor. It’s okay of course, to joke around. But read the room, be tasteful.
Pretending someone is royalty also entails that you will consider their needs and wants; on a level at, or above your own. This is because, after all, they could play a pretty big role in your own life. Whether you “vibe” with them or not. So how you treat them today could hurt or help you in the long run.
I’m sure that anyone reading this is already aware that there are people we encounter that we most certainly do not “vibe with”. Even though we may not prefer to interact with these individuals, we must because work, family, or social settings dictate so. Which means the temptation is present to mistreat or throw them under the bus because well, “they’re a toolbag” or “have not been nice to me” or “smells kinda terrible”. These may be valid reasons for spite or malice, but never an excuse to do wrong.
but why shouldn’t we repay annoyance with annoyance?
Well, most of us can point to a corrupted leader or individual with relative power somewhere in recent history. Just as true as Carl Jung’s 12 archetypes, there is always a villain for every hero. What if you were unintentionally manufacturing a villainous threat, the likes of which you would have to face down the road. This is a scary thought, not a fantasy, it is commonly known bullying is a catalyst for suicide and suicidal rampages like columbine.
If you were the advisor to a king, and you misinformed or mistreated that king, it might not only turn out poorly for you, it might turn out poorly for a whole nation.
Again this doesn’t mean kiss booties or place yourself in uncomfortable situations, it means be respectful and be honest to everyone as often as possible. It might turn out good for you!
I write about this not only because I think it’ll help anyone make true friends, but also because it is something I have hard time doing, it’s easy to quickly make assumptions about someone based on trivial things or single sided stories. Gossip is wrong!
Thanks for reading, your Highness