Whenever I think of a lady or a gentleman, my mind automatically wanders to the Victorian era with its beautiful gowns, horse-drawn coaches and well-dressed gentlemen. But what makes a real lady or a true gentleman?
It’s about things that are a lot more important than the clothes we wear and the cultural biases we are raised to follow.
It’s about a simple please or thank you.
It’s about respecting your fellow man. By acknowledging their worth and their importance, you immediately give them space to develop, grow and change the world in a positive way.
It’s about the way you speak to people, the words you use, the attitude you have towards them, the respect you show for their privacy, their pain and their joy.
It’s about doing something for someone who won’t necessarily be able to return the favour…and not expecting anything in return.
It’s not a job, it’s not a set of rules, it’s a way of living your life.
I for one am very glad that I don’t have to wear corsets and ride to work on a carriage! And let’s face it, those Victorian people may have dressed like ladies and gentlemen, but we all know that they gossiped like hooligans! So you see, it’s not about the way you look, but about the way you conduct yourself.
I’m excited though. I’m sure that a revolution of ladylike and gentlemanly behaviour is on the horizon; and I’m eager to be a part of it (as long as I don’t have to wear a corset!).