Manners Monday - Solar Eclipse Etiquette – How to Savor the Spectacle & Not Spoil it for Others

Today marks the first time in almost a century that the Total Solar Eclipse will be visible across North American spanning a path of fourteen states from Oregon to South Carolina. This once in a generation phenomenon has everyone from students and space buffs to weather enthusiasts and wonderstruck visitors clamoring for ISO-compliant safe eclipse glasses to capture the spectacle in all its glory.  On this fateful day, the moon will surreptitiously slide in front of the sun and, for a moment, ever so brief depending on your viewpoint, the Moon’s shadow will block the Sun’s light turning day to night and back again.  The entire event is supposed to last about two and a half hours beginning in our neck-of-the-woods at approximately 9:05 am, peaking at around 10:22 am, and ending around 11:45 am.  As you prepare for your eclipse viewing, here are five tips to savor the spectacle and ensure you don’t spoil it for those around you.

1. Keep Eyes Properly Covered. Proper eye coverage is crucial to stay safe and protect your eyes.  Only purchase glasses that are compliant with the ISO 12312-2 safety standard clearly marked.  I waited until the very last minute to find glasses, but everything was sold out. Luckily, our Mayor of Beverly Hills Lili Bosse will be handing out protective eyewear during her Walk with the Mayor this morning at City Hall

2. Clear Away the Distractions. Stay still when observing the eclipse with other people around you.  Viewing areas will be packed with throngs of people gazing at the sky alongside scientists conducting experiments. Show respect to all by taking in this experience with peace and quiet.

3. Keep Small Children & Pets in Check.  Animals have heightened senses and could have an alarming reaction to the sudden switch from light to darkness. Children may experience behavioral changes as well. If young children are running around, unmonitored, and unruly, it may cause additional mayhem.

4. Silence Truly is Golden.  Viewing the eclipse is a sacred experience for many and will be different for everyone.  With a duration of fewer than three minutes in total, show respect to all by holding off from making conversation and turning off your cell phone during this time.  Even the slightest vibration can create a background noise that can ruin research for those measuring sound. Be mindful of those around you.

5. A Little Patience & Courtesy Will Go a Long Way.  If you’re traveling to a viewing destination, follow the rules of the road along with parking instructions.  Small annoyances including bumper-to-bumper traffic, road closures, and check points will certainly slow things down.  Drive the speed limit and be on the lookout for pedestrians crossing your path.  Put on some relaxing music, soak up the scenery and take a deep breath.  This most memorable event won’t come around again anytime soon.

Wednesday Wisdom - Back 2 School Manners for the Teenage Set

My two teenage girls started new public schools in the scenic Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.  They are both making this transition during a phase in their academic careers when my youngest is entering her final year of middle school and her sister is starting her sophomore year of high school.  The timing isn’t exactly ideal to make a significant change and be forced to make new friends and figure out a new school campus, but life is about staying flexible and finding a path that feels right. They have changed schools many times previously from public to private and back again. Some experiences were good, and some were downright ugly, but all were enriching nonetheless and each made them the strong, independent young ladies they are today.

As they blossom into full-fledged teenagers, my attention has turned to preparing them for the challenging road to college.  For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been combing the August issue of Town & Country - the one containing the College Anxiety Guide – and it has made me even more clear on the message I want to impart on my girls going forward. Given the current climate of our country and the vitriol we are witnessing across the globe, it is crucial that our teens are equipped with solid character-building skills and self-respect so that they can interact with their peers at school and the world in a way that is both meaningful and constructive.  While I'll never stop preaching the tenets of The Golden Rule or reminding them to keep their social media clean, there are deeper themes I want them to hold dear at the start of this new school year.

Acceptance. These first days and weeks of school set the tone for the next nine months. One single student can make a significant impact for the better and have a rippling effect on a class at large.  Whether attending a big school or small, there will be kids in attendance from different economic, religious, ethnic, cultural, and sociological backgrounds and each is equally entitled to be there.  Be kind, be tolerant, and be friendly with everyone.  A smile and simple acknowledgment place all on a level playing field.

Balance. Every teen needs an outlet and athletics or some type of physical activity is just the antidote for both the book worm and the social butterfly.  The natural endorphins achieved through moving the body create equilibrium and help to diminish feelings of anxiety and anger.  Participating as a member of a team or taking a group exercise class provides much needed interpersonal connection and expands social circles.

Intuition. The teen years are wrought with bad decisions and the constant test of will to do what is right or fall prey to peer pressure.  Teens need to learn to go with their gut feeling.  It will never steer them wrong. And, this is where the self-respect component plays a significant part.  If teens have a strong sense of self and it is nurtured by their parents, they will tap into it to make better choices. They will become imaginative and find ways to fool their silly friends when it comes to drugs and alcohol and they will think twice before jumping into a car with an unsafe driver.  

Passion. “Passion cannot be faked.”  I wholeheartedly agree with Charles Isherwood in his article Liberal Bias for Town & Country magazine.  Educational institutions are growing smarter to the fact that many kids may be fulfilling their parent’s prophecy rather than pursuing their own personal interests.  Now’s the time for teens to explore activities that they are particularly passionate about whether that be student government or sailing the high seas.  If they haven’t figured it out yet, then parents can present options and make suggestions, but they should really be in the driver's seat.

Trust. Teens throw this word around loosely without the faintest clue of its true gravity and power.  They demand that parents ‘trust’ them as if they are old enough to make adult decisions. What they really need to start mastering is trusting themselves and earning our trust. They must also practice the art of trusting their friends and trusting the universe at large. Real trust can turn seemingly large problems into smaller manageable ones. It allows teens to take a beat and give another person the benefit of the doubt rather than going immediately for the jugular. By trusting the universe they are staying nimble, they are giving up control, and they are committing to the notion that everything will work itself out in the end.  Not such a bad thing in my book.