How to be Minnesota Nice: A Guide to Being a Good Person
Start the day with a smile, and end the day with saying "Have a good evening!". Here, where I live, Minnesota, this is our way of life-- it is Minnesota Nice. And the good news is anyone anywhere can learn to be "Minnesota Nice."
What is "Minnesota Nice"?
"Minnesota Nice" is an attitude. It involves being positive and sharing positive actions with others. All Minnesotans are not "Minnesota Nice", but many of us try to be. We try to look at the good things in life anf focus our attention on sharing and caring for and about others.
We "Minnesota Nice" people have learned what goes around comes around, and generally, if you are kind to others, they will be kind to you.
An explanation of "Minnesota Nice"
How to be "Minnesota Nice".
Smile. Take time to smile at everyone, even strangers. Why not? It takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown, so smiling involves less effort.
Be friendly, even to strangers. As I walk down the street here in Minnesota I notice people are generally friendly. Even if they don't speak to you, usually Minnesotans acknowledge you with a nod, or a smile, or a "Hey." It's important to take time to recognize others because we all need attention, even if it's just a smile or a nod.
Be courteous. Some places opening doors for others is a thing of the past. Not in Minnesota. I work as a Security Ambassador, and part of my job focuses on hospitality; needless to say, I open a lot of doors for people. I must be courteous, and, more importantly, I want to be. After a few weeks working my job, I noticed the more doors I opened for others, the more doors others opened for me.
Use manners. For many being polite is a lost art. Many of us spend far too much time complaining, whining, and not being respectful of others. Using manners, and talking mannerly (not using profanity constantly, especially around the kids), is important because it demonstrates consideration of others. Part of "Minnesota Nice" is considering and using appropriate language in public.
For more on good neighbors see:
- The Importance of Being a Good Neighbor
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your neighbors. If you are lucky, you have good neighbors. But some neighbors are not pleasant and can make your life miserable at times. If you have good...
Be neighborly. Wave and say "hi" to your neighbors, and they'll probably say "hi" back. This is how we establish a sense orf community. We ackowledge each other and show we care. Neighbors are not just the people next door, they are also the people who live down the street, or around the corner, or a few blocks over. It's so important to make connections with the people around you. Here in Minnesota this often involves talking about the weather -- the next rain, or the next heavy snowfall, or how beautiful today is. Sometimes we talk about fishin' too.
For more ideas on being a good person see:
- Important Life Lessons I have Learned From Children
We are always trying to teach children -- teach them the rules, teach them how to behave, teach them skills. I have worked as a teacher for many years, and I also have two of my own children, so I have spent a... - What is the Gift of Gentleness and Learning to be a ...
If you could put it in a bottle and sell it you'd make a fortune. Gentleness is a virtue, a gift we give to each other. Gentleness can be a quality or trait demonstrated by a person, but simply doing acts of...
Lend a helping hand. If someone is struggling with a bundle of packages help them out. If someone accidentally drops something, let them know, or better yet, pick it up and give the item to them. If a disabled person is having a difficult time getting through a doorway, try to assist them. If you see a customer leave a bag at the checkout, try to get their attention.
Show concern for others. When you hear someone is ill or has suffered a loss, let them know you are thinking about them and ask if you can help them in any way. Oftentimes, there may not be any physical way you can help out the individual, but by asking them, you let the person know you sincerely care about them.
Share. Most importantly share your time. Take time acknowledge others. We live in a fast-paced world where effective communication is deteriorating. Sometimes we're too busy texting to take time to listen and look at the person talking to us. Share you time -- look and listen, say "hi", ackowledge others. Share a bit of yourself, and others will share with you. This is part of being "Minnesota Nice".
In the last 24 hours how many strangers have you smiled at
For more information on elders see:
- Appreciate Our Older Generation --How We Can Learn From Their Experience
The United States is very youth oriented, and sometimes we overlook our elders and how important they are in our society. In America we focus on remaining youthful, and aging, although a natural...
Respect elders, always. Our elders have given us much, and they deserve respect and special attention. Recognize when they need assistance, and give them a helping hand. They cared for us when we were young, and now it is our turn to help them out and show them respect.
People all over the world are "Minnesota Nice", but here, in Minnesota, when winters are long and people are cooped up for days at time because the weather is bad and roads are impassable, we have learned to get along with each other. We practice "Minnesota Nice" because it makes life a lot easier.
