Like - Gently Slamming Doors
Something I learned about myself in my early 20s is that I slam doors. I thought I just closed them sort of loudly. Apparently, the polite way to open and close a door is to be firm but gentle so as to make as little noise as possible. That method is respectful to the door and the people in your vicinity. But, unless a child is sleeping, that’s not how I like to door. I’m partial to quickly turning the handle and flinging the things open. Then I do this slick move to close them where I catch the door by its side and then give a good push or pull so the door “sticks the landing.” I don’t wind up and put my full force into closing the door. I don’t rear back to show off my strength or make a point. I just put a little life into it, which makes a noise you can’t hear if you’ve been closing doors this way for thirty-some years. Or maybe I do hear it but it doesn’t faze me. To-may-to, to-mah-to. Either way, it feels good to do. But it turns out that most people consider this to be slamming a door. Kind of weird how that works, you know? So unfortunately, this is one of those things where I have to be better. Too bad this habit is thoroughly hardwired.