'THE POLITENESS PROJECT'- CONTINUED

DAY 6   I GET AN "A" FOR APPRECIATION
I enter a store where I have to return something without a receipt. The clerk is standing beneath a sign that reads "NO RECEIPT NO RETURN." I notice her necklace as I approach. She raises her hand and touches it, noticing me noticing it. The necklace is a Celtic cross with silver twigs wound together. "I love that necklace," I comment as I approach the counter. Then I tell her about my dilemma: "I'm afraid I bought these pants without trying them on," I say, "and it turns out they don't work at all. Could I please exchange them?" When she smiles and says yes, I make another note to self: People really do warm to you when you notice them and appreciate their efforts, whether they're changing a tire or wearing something special. As I leave the store I feel surprisingly serene. Being mannerly may be the right thing to do, but it's also a surefire way to feel better about yourself. I never realized how horrible I felt about being rude until I stopped.