Decency

May 14 is National Decency Day. Decency means listening carefully, trying to understand, and showing compassion. It is saying please and thank you. It is holding the door for the person behind you. It is paying attention to others and making their day a little better.

Decency is really just living the Scout Law to the best of our ability, especially being courteous, kind, and friendly. It does not take a special skill or a lot of time. Like a smile, decency is contagious. When we are decent to others, they tend to pass it on, and it spreads through a classroom, a team, or a whole troop. One leader said that when decency is normal, other virtues can thrive: integrity, honesty, compassion, kindness, and trust. Those are the same things we promise every time we say the Scout Law.

This week, do three small acts of decency for people you do not usually notice, like a bus driver, custodian, or cafeteria worker.