Chivalry

Well hello there!! I don’t normally post this close together but I saw this video and didn’t want to miss the chance to talk about it, so here it goes...

Chivalry is something that for some reason has come to be a thing of fairy tales, and to be quite honest I don’t understand why. What happened to holding the door for someone? Or simply saying thank you when someone goes out of their way for you? I just don’t understand. Now when I talk of chivalry, I talk from a female perspective, and a slightly astray from the normal interpretation. I believe that both men and women have the responsibility to be chivalrous. We all have the responsibility to think of others first, if we expect it for ourselves, why not do it for others? But we also have the responsibility to recognise it when it’s being done to us and to show our appreciation for it. But more on that later.

So firstly, acts of chivalry. I believe that when you put someone before yourself, it shows that you have a caring heart. And to me it also means that you value other people. I’m not saying that acts of chivalry have to be big, elaborate things, even the simple letting the old lady onto the bus first counts. And that reminds me... why is it that people have lost their respect for those older than them? We, as the young ones are supposed to look after and respect those who are older than us as they have spent most of their lives looking after us, so it’s only right to do the same for them when they start to need our help. It’s wrong for them to have to fight their way through a rowdy bunch of people just for them to get a seat on the bus, let them through first, they’ve worked all their lives to be where they are, let them rest. They deserve it. But its nit just that, as mentioned in the video, some very basic, simple acts that our parents most likely grew up doing are lost to our generation. We need to get off our backsides and actually act, especially when people least expect it - they are of course the best and most memorable of surprises.

Secondly, men and women (in my eyes at least) both have the responsibility to bring back chivalry. if men were left, well firstly, they’ve now become too lazy to do anything (that’s a generalisation, I know there’s still those few sensible ones out there, though far and few) but it’s also the fact that women now expect it so when it’s done, they won’t bat an eyelash which is quite discouraging to say the least. And if women were left to bring it back alone, well the men would either not allow it to happen because it decreases their manhood or them themselves won’t bat an eyelash (which happens to me pretty much every day). So what really needs to happen is for both sides to start it up again, to actively look out for it and appreciate when recognised. To dish it out like most do candy on Halloween. To not expect anything back, just feel happy that you were able to help someone because you could.

So I challenge you to make a change, live a more chivalrous life. I sure will join the challenge and try myself.

So this video below is the one that started this thought process. Have a watch, it’s worthwhile.

Ellah xx