So what is etiquette and why is it so important???? Let me share some of my views on this question. The one thing for sure is that etiquette is NOT a list of rigid, stogy, out of date rules.
Often I will refer to this as RST. These criteria dove tail well with the Golden Rule . As children you were taught such things as how to say “Thank You”, good table manners and what to call adults, etc. Now that you are older you may need a “road map” to navigate life with all its social and business demands. Here are a few examples of events when knowledge of etiquette comes in really handy – weddings, parties (business and social), graduations, births (announcements/showers), anniversaries, deaths/funerals and so on. How do you plan a wedding with all the multitude of details so you include everyone and not hurt feelings? How do you acknowledge memorials when a loved one has passed away? How do you write a proper thank you note for a graduation gift? What is the proper way to monogram your stationery? How do you address a letter to a married couple with different last names? The list is endless. There is one common denominator in all these situations . . . you want to do the proper and gracious thing. No one wants to take the time to do something special and tarnish the good deed by missing a subtle detail.
I hope to talk about lots of these types of questions in a new series of blogs found under the heading of Everyday Etiquette. The first questions I will discuss are from the Questions Most Frequently Asked me. I will always apply the “RST” criteria to all situations addressed as we travel through the maze of “what should I do” in certain social and business situations.
More later . . .
Ms. Carey