Be A Gentleman

 

Why is it we try so hard to be someone, instead of just trying harder to be more helpful.

  

Back in November, after having been laid off, I found myself back in the bug killing business.  In search of good advice, I sought out a former colleague of mine, who I esteemed greatly from my first term as an exterminator.  The question, as best as I can remember, was this : what should I strive most to do as a pest control tech?  The answer was simple - BE A GENTLEMAN.

So, what exactly does being a gentleman involve?  Here are my favorite definitions of a gentleman, from various sources.  A GENTLEMAN is a man with very good manners; chivalrous, polite, courteous, or honorable.  In a day and age when this is not always easy, it certainly seemed appropriate for my vocation.

Before we go any further, I must make a confession.  Sadly, I am still a work in progress when it comes to being a gentleman. Far too often, I allow my feelings to get in the way.  Instead of acting properly, I sometimes still overreact when faced with difficulty. 

For example, the other day I was suffering from a severe sinus headache and acted grumpy toward the staff at my doctor’s office.  A gentleman, at all times, would have risen above his adverse conditions, while seeking to be more polite and less abrasive.  To be a true gentleman requires consistency, not just holding the occasional door open for someone else.

This reminds me of a drawing my son gave me about twelve years ago, during my first stint as a bug guy.  My son was eleven or so at the time, and drew the note like a cartoon, which he suitably wrote in red magic marker. 

The first frame: Spray, spray, spray, (was accompanied by a picture of me spraying for bugs). 

 

The second frame: Eat, eat, eat, (had a picture of me sitting behind a steering wheel eating a sandwich).

The third frame: Complain, complain, complain, (was accompanied by a woman chasing me out of her garden because she didn’t want me spraying in it).

The fourth and final frame: Drive, drive, drive, (had a picture of me sitting behind the driver’s wheel, this time minus the sandwich). 

 

The point is all four activities, though mundane, when handled like a gentleman allows one to maintain a certain dignity.  So, I guess the point is simple, no matter what we are faced with we should seek to be pleasant about it.  Well, at the very least, attempt to be a gentleman about it.

Often my circumstances in life will change, but my commitment to be a gentleman must never.

Swavel