Up on the blog this week, I'm taking a break from Interior Design to talk about some things I've observed while I deal with the recovery of surgery on my broken foot.
There has never been a time in my life when I wanted to retreat from the outside world. Now, granted I have a flare for the dramatic, but in this moment, this is how I feel. It’s been quite challenging getting around the city of Philadelphia on a knee scooter. It’s really making me hyper aware at how much people are inconsiderate.
Case in Point: I stopped into Target on my way home today to pick up coconut milk for my morning latte. I arrived at the double doors, so thankful that there was an automatic door opener for those with a disability. To my dismay, as the doors started to open, it was apparent that I needed to get out of the way quickly. However, I was unable to even move closer to the doors as several people proceeded to walk through, glancing over at me while they were doing it. I barely scooted out of the way of the open doors before they started to close.
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A second case in point: Yesterday I ordered an Uber to get across town. When my driver pulled up, I asked if we could fit the scooter in her trunk. I then said I broke my foot and couldn’t put pressure on it. I started to get into the car when a passerby asked if I needed help getting the scooter in the car as it was clear the driver wasn't going to move. When I said yes, she started yelling at the driver to help me. I thought it seemed obvious that I wouldn’t be able to get the scooter in the trunk and walk on one foot and get into the car after that.
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What’s going on? How have we gone so far down this road that a polite word or a common courtesy is considered taboo? The lack of it in our daily routines seems to have hardened us, desensitized us, and devalued us. Rudeness and thoughtlessness coarsens our spirit and degrades our society. It’s nice to be nice and it makes a difference in small ways and in big ones too.
There are two types of inconsiderate people – those who know they are exhibiting inconsiderate behavior and don't care, and those who are simply having a tough day and allowing their stress to come out in their inconsiderate actions. Whatever the situation, it is pretty clear that the inconsiderate behavior is not directed at you personally. If it is someone who is rude by nature, they are probably like this with most people they encounter. If it is a person who is simply having a bad day, he may feel remorse regarding his actions later on. Either way, you may be on the receiving end of the inconsiderate behavior but you are most definitely not the cause. This is where flexibility and realistic expectations come in.
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I am not sure how we can reverse the downward spiral of poor behavior that has become so prevalent, but What Really Matters is that we try on a daily basis to treat others, as the Golden Rule instructs, as we wish to be treated. Pretty simple, really. We all experience inconsiderate people on the daily but we are most likely able to navigate our way around them without being phased. Lately, I find that inconsiderate people are draining my spirits a bit. Unfortunately, other's behavior is out of my control but, what I can do is control my response to these people and their behavior. After getting home and settling in, I realize that I don’t need to approach life with a victim mentality. While it is easy to watch a rude person in action and quickly assume the worst about him or her, it is far more challenging to approach the situation with an attitude of empathy and acceptance. Treat others with respect but don't necessarily expect it in return.
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I do believe that we should all be courteous and considerate of one another. But, I heard this on the Goop Podcast, "When we stop believing that somebody’s got your back or that Superman is coming, we turn to ourselves. And that is where you become empowered." I love this because in the end, it doesn't matter if someone is considerate towards you. Be considerate to yourself! After all, courageous participation attracts positive things.
In addition to hospitality design, we also design multi family development projects, other commercial spaces such as offices and retail spaces, and fitness center projects. We work here in Philadelphia, the main line, the tri state area and Nationally! If you enjoyed reading this piece please leave a comment and let us know. AND, let's get social. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and connect on LinkedIn!
About our Founder
Tina Delia, a native of Ocean County, NJ, current resident of Philadelphia, is the Founder and Principal Interior Designer of Delia Designs. For the past nine years, Tina has been steadfast in her vision and continues to develop herself personally and professionally. She is dedicated to excellence and insistence on forward thinking design.
At the forefront of her designs is the idea that our spaces have the ability to transform our lives. She is looking to move us, inspire us to see, think and create freely. After all, it's not only about creating beautiful spaces, it's about touching the lives of the people who live, work and walk through those spaces.
About the Intern
Eleni Palamidis, a native to Philadelphia, is currently a student at Community College of Philadelphia and will be transferring to Moore College of Art and Design in the Fall. She has always had a passion for interior design and creative ventures. While at Moore she will be pursuing a major in Interior Design with a minor in Graphic Design and Business.
Growing up in the Greek community has shaped Eleni to be the person she is today. She has been fortunate enough to have visited many of the islands in Greece, to which she credits her love for Architecture. Eleni hopes to one day open her own Interior Design studio and continue to do what she loves.
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