Many of us wince when we see others in our age bracket behaving in a vulgar fashion. On the flip side, we feel immense respect and pride for those who behave with class and dignity. If you do any of the things listed below, you may not realize just how classy you really are.
1. You don’t belittle others or put them down.
You’ve made enough mistakes in your own life to know how embarrassing they can be and how awful it feels when others mock you for them. As a result, you don’t put people down when they misstep, nor do you bring up past transgressions.
Similarly, you recognize that every person deserves to be accepted, respected, and supported as an individual. Differences should be celebrated rather than condemned, and since no human being is any greater or lesser than any other, nobody is in a position to judge anyone else.
2. You acknowledge and express true gratitude.
You don’t take anything for granted, and you express real gratitude by sending “thank you” cards or ensuring that you reciprocate another’s kindness within a short period of time. This ensures that those around you feel seen and immensely respected.
Additionally, according to Positive Psychology, expressing gratitude invariably has a domino effect: those who feel that their actions are acknowledged and appreciated end up being more generous with them and will express their gratitude towards others in turn. As such, your gratitude ripples outwards like a pebble tossed into a pond.
3. You communicate clearly and articulately.
Those who can communicate articulately, both verbally and in writing, command far more respect and courtesy from others than those who do not. You likely speak clearly and eloquently, using classy phrases and avoiding filler words such as “like.” As a result, you come across as confident and well-read. You pace your speech and pause regularly to gather your thoughts.
According to Science of People, those who communicate articulately have better relationships with others and are often perceived as natural leaders in business circles because of their ability to convey ideas convincingly.
4. You use proper etiquette.
You use proper table etiquette when dining with friends or business partners and default to the most elegant way of doing things, rather than adolescent antics. You’re comfortable with using all the proper forks, spoons, etc. at the dinner table, and won’t eat with your hands, nor chew with your mouth open.
You’re unlikely to do these things at home when wrapped up in your Snoodie and binge-watching your favorite shows, either. Just because you’re in cozy surroundings doesn’t mean that you let your personal standards drop.
5. You dress “well”.
Style is unique to every individual, and you’ve likely cultivated your own personal aesthetic over time. Dressing well doesn’t necessarily mean adhering to what someone has deemed “fashionable” this season, but rather dressing in a manner that suits you and your body type best.
That said, you may be investing in higher-quality pieces rather than cheaper “fast fashion”. You might even have a tailor or dressmaker create custom pieces for you in styles, hues, and fabrics that you adore, even if they’re unconventional.
6. You refrain from lewd or otherwise inappropriate behavior in public.
There is no age limit on partying and having fun, but how we do so changes significantly as we age. While it’s wonderful to sing and dance like no one is watching at weddings and other celebrations, getting blind drunk and twerking on the dessert table is …not ideal once you’ve hit your 40s.
You don’t tell crass jokes, nor do you swear unless you have a very good reason for doing so. Essentially, you don’t behave in any way that would humiliate you or damage your great reputation if it were captured on camera.
7. You focus on positivity over negativity.
Nobody likes to spend time with chronic complainers, and they’re often either looked down upon by their social circle for their constant negativity or excluded from events because they’re such downers.
Even though you may be struggling with a laundry list of hardships, you focus on the beautiful, positive things in your world. Furthermore, you encourage others to do the same, finding the silver lining in any difficult circumstance. This doesn’t mean you aren’t struggling, but you transcend those struggles in the pursuit of beauty and joy.
8. You mentor others without jealousy or competition.
Younger people often feel competitive with one another and may withhold information or skills from peers — and even colleagues — so their positions aren’t threatened. This type of behavior displays immense insecurity and is viewed contemptuously by others.
In contrast, the way that you share your knowledge with others is immensely appreciated and respected. You don’t see others as potential rivals but fellow humans who are helping to create a better world, those to whom you can pass the torch when you’re ready to pursue a different direction.
9. You don’t overshare.
The things we experience in midlife can range from appalling to hilarious, but whether you’re dealing with sex injuries or weird health symptoms, you avoid oversharing the details with others. You know the value of keeping your own confidence, and if you wouldn’t want to hear gruesome details of others’ lives, you certainly aren’t going to inflict them in turn.
You share just enough information to cultivate connections with others, but keep the most personal details within your closest social circle.
10. You avoid gossip.
You’ve likely been on the receiving end of gossip and know how awful that felt, and as a result, you refrain from gossiping about anyone else. If anyone tries to engage you in “spilling the tea”, you tell them that you don’t want to hear about it and move on. It’s this kind of classy behavior that sets you apart from the rest.
Essentially, you’re of the mindset that if something doesn’t directly concern you, there’s no reason why you should talk about it. You don’t know the whole story, and you aren’t going to damage anyone by spreading assumptions or half-truths.
11. You let others have the spotlight.
You’re confident enough with who you are that you don’t feel the need to be the center of attention. In fact, you’re likely far more comfortable letting others have the spotlight on a regular basis, rather than feeling envious or insecure when they do.
Similarly, you don’t try to “steal the show” when attending someone else’s event or special day. Insecure, classless people may upstage others to prove their own value or superiority, but you prefer to lift others up rather than put them down or overshadow them.
12. You admit when you’re wrong or when you don’t know something.
Few things scream “class” as much as owning up to having been wrong or admitting that you don’t know something. Insecure people will try to cover up missteps or pretend that they know something so as not to appear foolish; classy, confident people do not.
Instead, they take the opportunity to educate themselves about the topic(s) they feel ignorant about and freely admit when they’re wrong. And if their mistake caused anyone grief or offense, action will be taken immediately to make amends.
