During a recent Patrol, I had the pleasure of partnering with a new recruit. The patrol was important to him because it meant the end of his field training and the beginning of securing future patrols without supervision. The night went without too many challenges which allowed us to get to know each other a little better. During our chat, we shared details about our backgrounds and we dived into our motivations as volunteers for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office as Citizen Patrolmen. It was during this six hour shift that I learned he was, the next day, going to propose marriage to his lovely girlfriend. Their love story inspired me to write about the responsibility of every man to live his life as a gentleman.
It seems that every modern man could learn from the classic gentleman, like my new patrol partner. Follow this list to become the epitome of style and class - but remember, the real art is in knowing when to break the rules.
KEEP IT CLEANA gentleman is always freshly washed, well-groomed and well dressed. If in doubt, deodorant will get you further than a wisecrack. He has cultivated a personal style in his dress and in his attitude. He has an infectious manner of self-expression in the world and navigates by his own compass without waffling in response to trends.
CHIVALRY ISN'T DEADA gentleman opens the door open for her, helps her into and out of her coat and lets her order first. And, although his eyes may wander from time to time, he ensures his mate is secure in the knowledge that his feet will not follow suit. Although this may seem old-fashioned and unnecessary at first, women as well as men enjoy it.
SHUT UP AND LISTENA gentleman always listens. Who doesn't prefer talking about personal interests? Let your love set the topic, listen intently and reap the rewards. Be the active listener by engaging in the conversation at the proper moments to acknowledge the story and validate the feeling behind the message.
SELF-IMPROVEMENT A gentleman is a man of the world, and he must diligently and consistently work to improve himself in all ways and continually remove the limits on his degrees of freedom in all aspects of life: physical, mental, emotional, financial, sexual, social and spiritual. He gets to know other men of the world, if not firsthand, then from books and magazines.
PATIENCE A gentleman understands the value of the long game. Whether it's a business deal or an extended family gathering, his interests can wait. Whether he calls it God or the divine mind within, he accesses it and remembers that keeping his composure is an inexhaustible fountain, overflowing with time and consideration for others.
BE CULTURED A gentleman doesn't drink from the bottle. He drinks from a glass. And, he has banished violence from his life. He is brave without being brazen so that others can feel his strength without being afraid of it.
"Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others."
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
© Lonnie Ledford 2017 All Rights Reserved.
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
© Lonnie Ledford 2017 All Rights Reserved.
