The rules of etiquette that have evolved over countless generations are specific, valuable, and accessible.  People don’t inherit this knowledge.  We do not know these rules instinctively.  We have to learn them.  We need to know the acceptable standards, so that we can bend them as needed.  After all, every human interaction gives us three choices:  we can do what’s absolutely correct.  We can do what’s absolutely incorrect.  Or, we can do what is absolutely appropriate, which is often somewhere in between.  Common sense, respect for others, and a friendly outlook on life go a long way toward helping us have harmonious relations with others and earn us a reputation as individuals with good manners.  But these estimable attributes will not cover every situation and are not absolute proof against embarrassment.  And people who don’t know what nice people we are will tend to judge us, perhaps harshly, solely on our behavior.

Births, christenings, coming-of-age ceremonies, birthdays, retirements, engagements, weddings, funerals.  These are the milestones of our lives.  Each milestone represents one door closing and another door opening.  It’s important to observe such milestones with thoughtful attention and appropriate celebration. 

Each milestone is a time of community, a time when we depend on each other to share our excitement, our joy, our sadness, our anxiety.  Each is a time to support one another even though we might be only tangentially involved in each event or we may or may not be invited to participate directly in the occasion.  Still, these are eminently human occurrences, filled with emotion and import, and it’s only kind to recognize them and acknowledge them.  The truth is that all of us depend on each other and take comfort in the goodwill and camaraderie we extend toward one another.  The best way to do this is by celebrating key events in each others’ lives. 

Society’s attitudes toward sex and relationships have changed in recent years.  Similarly, family life has been redefined to reflect not only our families of origin, but also our families of choice.  Challenging issues surround being a good neighbor, adoptions, and extended family relationships.  Of course, communications are more sophisticated than ever before.

At TMO, we provide customized programs to address your dilemmas, as a group or individually.  These programs are entirely confidential, and we look forward to bringing you the self-confidence that only comes when we are sure of ourselves and our behavior in given situations.  The goal is for our friends, families and co-workers to be happy and care about one another. In turn, this helps to foster teamwork that is essential for constructive communities. 

Some of the evergreen topics are addressed in the articles below:

• Braving the Buffet - Don't Be Baffled
• Getting it Right When It Comes to the Right Wine
• On Dining Well - Gain Confidence at The Table
• Diet Etiquette for the Holidays
• Dealing Well With Disagreement
• The Art of Gift Giving
• Changing Faces - Cosmetic Surgery Dilemmas
• The Etiquette of Bereavement
• Condolence Letters
• Entertaining People In Recovery
• Table Manners Tips (for Children & Parents) [PDF]