étiquette....

Do you know what 'etiquette' means?

My James and I were comin' back from our honeymoon (yeah, that's me, Mrs. Bond :-)) and a gal in front of us had one of those head/neck pillows around her head, and the tag was sticking up. Since we were in Canada, the labels have to be in French and in English.

I never really thought about what that work, "etiquette," means. Well, I was bored (and she was right in front of me), and so I was reading the label, first the English, then the French.

WELL, you know that part that says "Don't Remove This Label?" In French, "label" is...."étiquette."

I think that is beyond perfect.

Your "etiquette" labels you to others. The French word is a derivative of the "estiquer," which means to attach, or "stick." Your "etiquette" -- your behaviors, proprieties of conduct, and how you deal with others, "sticks" to you....it "labels" you.

I remember one of my Bond Grrl students once asked me one of those "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, does it make a sound" questions. She talked about if no one is around that 'knows you' (or you are at home, etc.), does it "matter" if you put on a professional appearance, are courteous, are that Bond Grrl You.

Well, seeing that head pillow and where the word "etiquette" comes from made me smile -- because that is the answer to this question.

Are you "labeled" because of "etiquette"? Look -- I know, you didn't make the rules. Maybe it IS easier to push the peas on your fork with your finger -- or to wipe your hand on your pants. But your "etiquette" is labelling you -- not just to others, but also to yourself. Like that tag on that pillow, you can't just remove it when you want to -- you're going to slip.

So remember, though "etiquette" sounds like a pretty word and makes people roll their eyes and say they are "someone else's" rules, in reality, they are your Label. And you want to be wearing a Label that says Gucci, Manolo, Neiman's....not McDonald's, Ross, and Marshall's.

Right?