Opinion: Civility lives ‘in the doing’ that is practiced every day

By Jeff Worrell

Civility is a popular word these days. We post it. We pledge it. We proudly say, “That’s who I am.” But civility doesn’t live in the declaration. It lives in the doing.

So how do we prove it?

We prove it by staying in the conversation after disagreement. By seeking to understand, not just to win. We prove it when we let someone merge in traffic, even if we’re in a rush. When we hold the elevator for someone trailing behind. When we send a handwritten thank-you note instead of a quick emoji. When we apologize first, listen longer, forgive faster.

Civility is in the small things — like using someone’s name, putting the phone down during dinner, and offering genuine grace when others fall short. It shows up when we speak truth kindly, not just loudly. It’s easier to be civil when it’s convenient. But the real test is when it’s not.

So let’s do more than say we’re civil. Let’s live it. In our neighborhoods. In our boardrooms. At ballgames and on ballots. Not because it’s easy — but because it’s essential.

We can’t just say we’re civil. We must BE CIVIL.