In an age where "common courtesy" words such as thank you, you are welcome, and please are on their way out the door, author Peter Gales is on a mission to educate the public on the value of good manners, in his first book, The Practice of Acknowledgements-How to Experience More Caring and Rewarding Relationships in Your Personal and Professional Life.
"When I was growing up, you couldn't walk into a room without saying 'good-morning,' now, that's the case," he lamented. Gales said his book, which also underscores the need to encourage and see the good in others, was inspired by some of his own life experiences. "We have not been trained to acknowledge what's good in people. We don't often tell people things like 'You make a difference to me'. In fact, it feels awkward to tell someone that. But when you do, the quality of your life and the lives of others go up tremendously." Gales was speaking to an appreciative group of family, friends, supporters and media, during his official book launch at Nigel R Khan Bookseller, West Mall, on March 23.
Just because...
The Fatima College alumnus added that his book was a tribute to his mother, Pearl-e Phillips, who he said had "a lifetime of acknowledging people from the heart" and who found the need to help others "just because." A visibly emotional Gales told the crowd that his father was battling with cancer, and his mother's benevolence towards someone a long time ago, was the reason behind his father receiving urgent medical attention at hospital recently. "When the woman saw it was my mother, she said 'What are you doing here?' My mother told her my father needed to get an X-ray and the woman literally wheeled him in to get it, true Trini style," he joked. "My mother helped that woman so many years ago and she remembered her for it."
Magic in a smile
Noting that his passion had always been to encourage others to realise their full potential, Gales said he hoped the book, priced at $79.95, would serve to make a real difference in the lives of Trinidadians, who he said "tend to be a very angry people." "I want people to love what they do for a living. It's sad when people go to work to a job that gives them no satisfaction. I want to help young and old feel that they love to go to work, which for most 'Trinis' seem like an odd concept," he said, laughing. Sharing in the occasion were veteran mas-man, Peter Minshall, who described Gale as a well-learned author with a real passion for helping others as well as Gales' mother, who told the T&T Guardian, "I'm so touched that he dedicated his book to me...I hope people see that it all begins with good manners...There is magic in a smile."
