respect...what an interesting concept. it seems like most people these days adhere to the 'respect is earned' outlook and rarely give any out on faith alone. i was raised to give a certain amount of respect to everyone, including strangers, until their actions justify otherwise, especially those older than me. i generally abide by this notion (unless i'm driving, then my mindset is the older you are the less respect you deserve, just from experience) with manners and simple acts of kindness. i believe those things are important. how many times have you just gone to wawa or to pick up lunch and ran into someone who was just simply a pleasant and kind person who just made you smile? it's almost impossible not to be in a better mood. such people don't even know you and probably will never see you again but felt it important enough to treat you with respect and make your day just a little bit better.

i remember i went to this wendy's by work for lunch one time. of course there was a long line, long enough so that me and my coworkers had that sense of dread, thinking "how long is this going to take?" but we got in line anyway and to out amazement the line was moving quicker than i've ever seen a fast food restaurant line move before. we got towards the front and i notice this manager that i've never seen before. he was taking orders and telling his staff what to do and what needed to be done, not in a demanding but in a managerial way, and the line was flying by. i was honestly impressed by how well this guy was directing things, to the point where i wanted to call wendy's headquarters and tell them how great a job this guy was doing. something so simple, like working at wendy's, and this guy took enough pride in his job to do it to the best of abilities. seriously, this was the kind've gentleman who demanded respect just through his actions. you gave it to him immediately just by how he composed himself and outwardly showed respect to everyone else, including his staff and customers. this is a guy who you would want to work for/with, regardless of what you do. this is the type of guy who, if he were in the army, would be the general whose soldiers would respect and fight for without question. i know that's a big assumption but i honestly believe that, he exuded respect. something that is considered, however probably falsely, so basic like managing a fast food restaurant and this guy did it with more pride than i see some "high ups" do their job in the navy. it's appauling that such a respectable person is working a "low end" job while other, despicably worse people who deserve little or no respect, take their "high end" jobs for granted. but that's a whole other post that i don't want to get into quite yet.

i feel like everyone should be given a certain level of respect to start out, but in order to maintain that respect, it must be earned. any type of condescension and you immediately lose a certain amount of respect, no questions ask. having no manners or being completely discourteous at all is a form of condescension. not saying a simple "thank you" to a waitress/waitor that brings you your food, to me at least, shows a "that's their job, they have to" mentality. obviously, it is their job but they in no way have to serve you anything. they provided you with a service and should be thanked, like any person should be. you are in no way better or more of a person than they are and have no right to act condescending towards them. granted, everyone is guily of being condescending to a certain degree at one point or another and it's an incredibly relative/interpreted subject, but it's the constant or common condescension that really causes all respect to be lost. the greatest thing about respect is how little you might have, every day is a new day to start earning some. so when you go to lunch today, say a little "thanks" and throw a little smile at the wendy's guy :)