![]() Like many words, 'class' can take on various meanings. Regarding the use of the word to describe people, it is often mistakenly assumed it refers to socioeconomic status. The meaning of 'class' notated forthwith, can be found amongst all kinds of different people. Money can't buy it. You either have it, or you don't. The Urban Dictionary defines a person with class as being "poised, graceful, mature, respectful, possessing excellent self control, gentle and soothing while being unoffensive". This reminds me of the "Fruits of the Spirit" found in Galatians 5:22, 23, in the Bible..."love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." People that have class, have everything that matters. People without it, seem to never have or get what they want - regardless of how much they already have. I think part of aging, and doing it triumphantly, should ultimately reflect achieving some degree of class in our demeanor and how we choose to conduct and express ourselves. This is not to suggest that people can not attain this kind of thing earlier in their lives. Again - class knows no boundaries. I personally know plenty of young people with more class than their elders. But, as we experience more, learn more and share more, it would seem almost an obligation to future generations to serve as some sort of example. I wish all of our heroes and political leaders had class, because they get a lot of attention and have the greatest opportunity to impact others. Sadly, I am sure all of us have been disappointed by the lack of class exhibited in many of these cases over time. It seems like every previous generation sees the up and coming one to be lacking the class their own one has or had. Moreso, I believe the problem to be the age we are living in. For one, nowadays, the needs of the individual seem to overshadow the needs of the collective whole. Selfishness does not promote an environment conducive to class. Often times, what accompanies the 'me' attitude is abruptness, abrasiveness, impatience and hostility, particularly when being denied whatever it is we think we want. To make matters worse, all of this seems to be actually celebrated and encouraged in much of the entertainment world today. I, myself, used to scoff at how many times words would get 'bleeped' out of broadcasts whether they be live or recorded. I would think to myself, "surely there were more appropriate words that could be used instead of the foul language the bleeps were intended to hide." More recently, the bleeps aren't even being used, and the four letter words come ripping out replacing any and all real vocabulary. So what is wrong with that? Well, most of the time, these words are spoken harshly and intended to be hurtful. Or, they are used for shock value. (I guess one can not overlook the possibility that some truly may not have any other vocabulary; sad as this is.) Eventually, a de-sensitizing process takes place, and then this becomes the norm. I remember a program called 'Designing Women' that used to be on television in the late 80's and early 90's. The character, Julia, was portrayed as an intelligent and classy woman. Yet, regularly she would lose her temper and go off on long winded, righteous rants. At the time, I was a young woman trying to 'make it' in what I perceived to be a man's world; so I could relate to those rants. Unfortunately, I was blessed with the same gift, and there were plenty of occasions where I erupted myself. However, there was never a time where I didn't feel truly bad afterwards...even if I was so-called 'right'. In the movie, 'You've Got Mail', the Meg Ryan character is remorseful at her inability to say what she wants in the moment she needs to. The Tom Hanks character tries to worn her that if she ever does react when she wants to, remorse will inevitably follow. And she finds this to be true later on. As I have gotten older, I have seen with more clarity, that it is rarely ever necessary to hurt someone else. In doing so, you hurt yourself and the whole world around you. I have often asked my young relatives this question "Do you want to make the world a better place or a worse place?" Everything you say or do will tip the scale one way or the other. That is having class in a nutshell: realizing that every little inconsequential thing you say or do - matters. Having class, means you are confident in your choices without hurting someone or others in the process. When classy people make mistakes, they don't blame others or make excuses for it. They pick themselves up and go on...helping others to do the same along the way. Class is sacrificing what you want for the greater good and for the sake of decency. People with class will never go out of style. I would encourage everyone to nurture an atmosphere of class, starting with yourself. I believe in the goodness of people. Strive to be the best part of yourself. That alone will inspire others to do the same, whether you ever realize it or not.
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