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NEWS | March 31, 2014

Be nice

By Master Sgt . Tim Wheelis 14th Airlift Squadron

Have you ever heard the saying, you'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar?

Simply put, it means, be nice! This saying is something everyone should think about when talking to friends and strangers alike.

We all have those days where we wish we could just crawl back into bed and try again tomorrow, but acting disgruntled and rude only makes other people have a bad day too. If you happen to encounter someone who is obviously having a bad day, or even a bad year, try cheering them up instead of spreading the gloom, you may just save a life.

If you need to talk with someone to correct an issue such as hair or uniform, remember to be constructive with your criticism. If you yell at them in front of people or make general statements about their appearance being out of regulation, you will most likely be met with resistance and contempt. Instead, talk with them in private and let them know exactly what is out of regulation and how to fix it, then follow up to make sure the issue gets fixed.

Also, if you happen to be the one out of compliance, accept the criticism and fix the issue. There is no sense in acting disrespectful especially when you are in the wrong. No matter where you work, or who you're talking to, be nice to people and you may be surprised how nice people are in return.