How To Not Be An Asshole Anymore

” Take the time to respond instead of reacting.”  – James L.

“Don’t ignore your friends when they call you then text you then send you an Instagram message saying ‘are you dead?'”  – Elizabeth M.

“Don’t complain when good things happen; you are not Odysseus and there is no Poseidon and there’s no point in spending your entire life waiting for the other shoe to drop.”  – Miranda P.

“Stop being an asshole to assholes, because you’re an asshole too, remember?”  – Adam G.

“Pause. Don’t throw shit and scream.”  – Monica C.

“Don’t have road rage. RECYCLE. Don’t snap at waitstaff.”  – Claire C.

“Listen before responding.”  – Adrian L.

“Try to be empathetic. They’re probably having a shitty day, too.”  – Frances M.

“Instead of saying ‘I know’ say ‘you’re right.'”  –  Michael H.

“Don’t feel you always have to give an ‘alibi’ if you don’t want to do something so that the other person feels guilty for having asked you. I’ve gotten lots of mileage out of ‘I’m sorry, that won’t be possible.'”  – Sarah P.

“Don’t smile like a Cheshire cat.”  – Mary W.

“You can fling stuff across the room, just do it in an empty room, and preferably with a non-breakable item.”  – Dorrit.

“Stop rolling your eyes. Keep your mouth shut. Count things: ceiling tiles, trees, slow breaths in and out.”  -–D.R.

“Don’t fucking say anything for a minute. Let someone tell you their whole thing and don’t try to solve it or relate to it. Take a minute, let them say their piece, whatever it is. You don’t even have to listen, you can just focus on making faces that suggest you are listening. Don’t say a word until they are done, and go from there.”  – Nathan A.

“Don’t try to control those close to you, even if you know they are making horrible choices.”  – Chelsea H.

“Don’t honk your car horn.”  – A.D.

“Stop using the words idiot, stupid, moron and dumb because being smart shouldn’t be a value that we put above all others, and also, it’s a horrible thing to call someone.”  – Anabel W.