Presbyterian Senior Living | Miscellaneous
People being civil to other people is what makes the world a better place and is the key focus of National Civility Month, which is held in August each year. National Civility Month was founded to help the world remember to treat others the way we wish to be treated ourselves — with kindness, empathy, and respect. What does it mean to treat each other with civility? It means to be civil in public discourse and behavior, be respectful of others whether or not you agree with them; it means standing against incivility when you see it.
In choosing civility, you also choose to recognize when you have caused offense or hurt someone through your words. It does not matter if you “intended” to offend or hurt; it is the impact - the effects of your words that should be addressed.
Read the apologizes below, and think of how you may receive them if you are the one who has been offended. Although the first two may be genuinely felt, the third example conveys that you understand that your words or actions did offend or cause hurt.
- Don’t say, “I didn’t mean to cause offense.”
- Don’t say, “I’m sorry if I caused offense.”
- Say, “I’m sorry that I caused offense.”
Within Presbyterian Senior Living, we recognize that the fabric of our communities is woven with many beautiful and different cultures, values, and beliefs. In choosing civility; we recognize that we must treat each other with kindness, empathy, respect and understanding. These attributes not only display civility; they encourage all to feel that they can bring all that they are to our organization and feel that they belong.
Let’s all try to choose civility!
Reference: NATIONAL CIVILITY MONTH -August 2023 - National Today
