According to an recent article written by Travel and Leisure, New York City was ranked as the #1 rudest city in the US. I can't say that I'm shocked and I don't think that NYC is either because it is certainly not the 1st time we've been ranked as such or associated with the bad rep. I'm going to be honest- we can be pretty damn rude. For example, when it's 7:47 AM on a Monday morning and your train stops at Time Square 42nd St and a crowd of 7 babbling (nearly yelling) tourists board the train, shove in, and scream when the speed picks up again...yes, we can be rude. But for the most part, I think many people just don't take the time to get to know us. By no means is this a 'you' vs. 'us' thing, but for those of us that dwell here, there is this sort of secret code in place. It is as though no one knows one another here, yet we all have some sort of secret language going on. Let me give you an example. I was riding that very train mentioned above, yet at a much more manageable hour of 7ish PM and was being my normal alert self, scanning the train for any possible 'threatening' people; mainly just being aware of my surroundings. An elderly woman boarded the train and it immediately took off before she could find a seat. It was almost as if all of a sudden those of us around here had become a unit, making it our every effort to make sure she had a seat. One young boy got up, another person moved over and about 3 of us shifted in the aisle. Some light conversation was exchanged and even those light smiles/laughter that say 'yea, we got this.' Part of the perception of NYC being the rudest city is that folks who don't live here aren't necessarily giving the place a chance...or getting to know who its people really are deep down. This little old lady on the subway also got me thinking about doing things for others. Everyday we are faced with the challenge of doing what is right, whether or not it may be what we personally want. In a society that is so singularly goal focused as ours, we may find ourselves 'doing the right thing' and then not understanding why it may not feel right, or it may not be well received by our peers. At the end of the day, or at the encounter of an elderly person in need of a seat- we should be doing what is right regardless of how we thing it will make us feel or what others reactions will be. So my point in all of this? Instead of taking something personally (i.e. "I went to NYC and everyone was so rude there!") realize that your perception of another's actions can be completely different from why the person is actually do it. So get up, let that old lady sit, and put a smile on your face! Not being rude may be easy but I dare you to challenge yourself to continually try to do the right thing everyday- regardless :)
xoxo AA
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