Some have said:

There are three kinds of people.

Those who wonder what happened.

Those who watch what happened.

And, those who make things happen

I was once asked to address a group of young people whose leaders were concerned that the teenagers didn’t understand common courtesy.

This was a choice group. They really wanted to improve their social skills.

The leaders asked me to focus my remarks on a few common courtesies that were not very common with the group of young folks.

Things like opening doors for ladies, including sisters and mothers.

Saying thank you, please, excuse me, and I’m sorry.

After reminding them about the above common courtesies they said they understood and would incorporate common courtesy into their daily lives.

I explained that maybe common courtesy is a matter of attitude toward other people.

I gave them an example of how they could test themselves if they had a common courtesy attitude.

I explained that if they left the bathroom toilet paper roller looking like the example of the right, maybe they may be in the group of folks that watch things happen.

If they left the roller looking like the middle picture they might be grouped with those who watch things happen.

But if the roller looked like the example on the left they could consider themselves to be in the group that made things happen.

I suggested that if they had a common courtesy attitude with toilet paper (where they performed in private) that same attitude would probably be displayed in public.

Saying thank you, please, excuse me, and I’m sorry.

And things like opening doors for ladies, including sisters and mothers.