Warning: There is a Reward for Politeness

Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon - photo by JoAnn Sturman

by Shannon Sturman

A couple of my friends and I recently decided to take a road trip to Southern California. With its endless beaches and the cool summer breeze, it was no wonder it seemed to be the perfect vacation getaway. We decided to drive to Newport Beach, a place with a stereotype of middle-aged men cruising around in Lamborghinis and 50 year old women still believing they are in their 20s. Late in the afternoon, we spent a couple hours roaming the town to satisfy our desire for people watching.

As we walked down the concrete bike trail that parallels the beach, it was mind-blowing to see how Newportians spend their typical summer Friday afternoons. While observing the people of Newport, I noticed being polite was not the usual way of dealing with others. The people who choose the glamorous lifestyle have the idea that others should cater to their needs, as if fancy cars and beachfront property make them an exception to the rule of treating others respectfully.

There is a sense that we as a nation have forgotten the way we should treat others. The non-profit organization The Foundation For A Better Life airs commercials, where awareness for values such as honesty, encouragement, and politeness are highlighted. The message is clear that the basic traits cherished by society have little to do with wealth or lavish lifestyles and much to do with how we interact with each other. Whether a person is a lady or gentleman is not measured by financial status but by generosity, love, honesty, and empathy.

My friends and I decided to Yelp a restaurant. We figured if the people of Newport are willing to give it good reviews, then it must be worth the try! We came across this cute Italian restaurant called Mama D’s which seemed to be on everybody’s cravings list too, because the line was way out the door. While skimming through the menu, our very pleasant waiter came to the table and not only introduced himself but actually took the time to ask us all of our names as well. When I slid my glass across the table for a refill of water, I was impressed to hear him say, “Thank you Shannon.” Once we placed our orders, our people watching began again, as we helped ourselves to the unlimited supply of homemade bread . Forty-five minutes passed, and we anxiously waited for our meals to arrive.

It was such a beautiful day, so my friends and I decided to soak in the beachfront and enjoy our time at the restaurant. The long wait for a meal at a busy place was out of our control and looking irritated or annoyed would not bring our food out any faster. My roommate’s and my entrees finally came; we were starving and could smell the aroma of the delicious food. However, my other friend had not received her meal. She ordered the Mama D’s eggplant pasta special, and preparing it entailed a long wait. Even though my mouth instantly watered at the sight of my food, I was taught to wait to eat until everybody at the table received their food. Our waiter frantically stopped by our table expressing his sincere apologies for the delay. Before he returned to the kitchen to check on the status of the last plate, he mentioned he was very impressed that my roommate and I had not touched our food. I was surprised to hear him compliment us on “being the nicest people he has ever met.” He seemed to be a very decent and polite person, so I wondered if such a humble man would find it difficult to work in a superficial environment.

Another ten minutes passed, and the last meal finally made it to the table. Our distraught waiter told our friend that her meal would be taken off the check due to the lengthy delay. To our surprise the waiter also rewarded my roommate and me with a 50% discount on our meals because we were polite and waited for our friend’s eggplant dish to arrive. In this instance, patience and politeness truly did pay off!