Brits’ day-to-day life

 

Brits’ day-to-day life: a mirror of social values

 

What are the indicators of economic development? Increase in GDP or per capita are pointers, which represent the progress of the sectors: agriculture, industry, services, trade and commerce. Though development of these factors is essential, the real changes in social life and its standard result in contentment and happiness in the day-to-day-life of the people. But this happiness index depends on several factors, like: zero or reduced crime rate, fighting terrorism and threats of war, increased longevity, facilities for higher education, perception of corruption, religious tolerance, eradication of poverty, assurance of social security measures, care provided to the aged etc.  According to the 2025 World Happiness Index, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg, and Mexico rank as the first 10 among 147 nations under study, where Afghanistan stands the lowest. What gives the 8^th position to Israel, a country at war and also fighting terrorism in the middle-east, is their quality of social life, especially the social connections that the Israelites preserve in their day-to-day life.

Look, where do the Brits stand in World Happiness Index. While UK stands 23^rd, US stand 24^th in the most recent indexing reports. Though the happiness index is below 25, the day-to-day social life in Britain continues typical and distinctive as it was in the beginning of the 19^th or 20^th century. The Brits claim that they have strong day-to-day social life which is appreciated within the country and even outside Eurasia.

My knowledge about the day-to-day social life of the Brits is mainly through Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice (1797) that I learned in my degree classes and through Charles Dickens’ novels: Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickelby and Great Expectations (1840-1850) that I analysed in my higher education classes. They are like mirrors of Brits’ day-to-day social life which is also deep–rooted with the values, standards and esteems that they strong held during ages, till date. Living in a commonwealth country, i.e. in India and learning the colonial history of India were sources for me to know about the day-to-day social life of the Brits. The turbulent 20^th century in which two world wars were fought, are not denied here, as they were also ushering in changes in to the British society at an inconsistent situation.

What I like to say now is my learning through direct observation of the social life of the natives during my days of stay in May 2025 with my son and daughter, mainly in Warwickshire, Shakespeare’s County. In their day-to-day social life, the Brits hit: distinct, noble and esteem results. In this standard setting attempt, I think that the Brits stronghold four-pillars in the social life. Through ages, these norms in social relations were continued though ‘much water had been flown under the bridge’. I think, consistency, punctuality, respectfulness and consideration are the four pillars on which the Brits’ day-to-day social life has become happier, peaceful and creative in every walk of life.

1. The Brits show consistency in their values and past achievements. Modernity does not make much challenge in the present life, except that from the changes in Information Technology. In social life this nature of consistency shall not be considered as escapism from current realities. Take the consistency in any field, e.g. the construction of houses in towns and villages, even in 2025 in Warwickshire, one can find almost the same style as followed in four or five centuries. During our tour to Shakespeare’s Stratford we saw the born-house of the poet, which had been built by the poet’s father. Imagine the antiquity, structure and the materials-used for the construction of a double-storied house built around 1500. On the way up to this town and downwards we were observing the new structure and the materials used for construction, we couldn’t find much difference to the outer walls and doors of houses. Same old type of facades, arches and doors were constructed to the new buildings, which we felt was an appropriate tailoring of newness with the oldness. How this action of consistency was transferred from generations to generations? When any practice becomes flawless and powerful, that practice withstands the challenge of time. With this consistency in planning and construction of new houses, or in renovation of houses, the look of residential areas appears in splendour with glamour even after two or three centuries. Any temptation from modernity for changing the outer shape or colour won’t influence the new constructions. This theory of consistency in the social life of the Brits is seen not only in architectural engineering, but also in food style, housekeeping, gardening and culinary. This consistency is seen without much transformation even in the consumption of staple food in the day-to-day life.  Bread, butter and wine are the most prominent items in daily food style. Cleaning and waste management in homes are the responsibility mainly of the senior members. Most of the houses have open-kitchen or convenience to watch cooking from the living room. Thus the culinary activities are auditable even by the guests. But, the impact of modern engineering and technology has been widely seen in the living rooms, where traditional fire-places have been disappeared. On the same time the people once they accept anything through the test of time or anything gained through the practices of centuries; they stick to that element whole-heartedly. Nostalgia has compelled them to give a modern look to the traditional fire-place, with an unharmed electric prank-flame welcoming the family-members for an old-fashioned ‘fire-talk’ near by the TV screen, where channels are on. Brits are loyal to the saying, old is gold `at any cost.

2. Punctuality in the day-to-day life is a warranty for contentment and happiness, which anybody can notice with the Brits. What is the importance of punctuality in the day-to-day life of the British? If I remember my own experience to prove the attitude toward punctuality, it is about the Sunday services in the churches. As the holy mass is to be started at 11.00 am, the priest/s, altar boys/girls and the laymen would be there at their assigned positions at least five minutes before. At sharp 11. 00, the prayer begins. No natives are late to the prayers. This was what I could observe on four Sundays in four different churches in Warwickshire. People are punctual to arrive at the bus-stop too to catch the buses. How punctuality does become a time-setter in the day-to-day life of the Brits? Being punctual means, one becomes regular. Being punctual in social life, one becomes trustworthy and consistent.

3. Respectfulness is another quality that makes the day-to-day life of the Brits happier. Respectfulness is expressed in different ways. Queuing to accept a service or to buy a commodity is commonly a practice approved everywhere in Brits’ day-to-day life. Nobody is taking any ‘shot-cut’ to avoid the queue and thus there is obedience to avail any service among them. Everyone gets respect when one’s presence is being approved. Another occasion of respectfulness I could experience was at the main doors of public places or shopping malls. If anyone is moving along with you into the room, that person will take initiative to open the door for your smooth admittance.  Yet another way to show respect to others, especially in the presence of others is to behave with decency and to talk in soft voice so that you shall not distract the tranquillity prevalent there.

4. The quality of consideration to others in the social life is the fourth pillar on which a strong and contented day-to-day life has been achieved by the Brits. If you consider the presence of others and to show respect, best thing is not to annoy them while you travel in a bus or train. No one distracts you with high volume of music from the mobile phone. No one distracts you with penetrating look into your screen of mobile or on to your face. Everybody’s private moments during the journey is honoured with silence and decency. The Brits generally hate eating or chewing food in public places, for the waste of which may pollute the beauty of places.

 

Sometimes the non-natives won’t understand the inner and outer meanings of the body language, posture or mannerisms of the natives. If the non-natives fail to understand the meaning of the responses in a conversation, there unhappy slots may appear. For example, the Brits greet everybody in all contexts, irrespective of the status, age or gender of the person/s whom they meet.  ‘Hi, morning!’ is great triggers to get a smile and to generate proper responses from other side. We can’t think of a moment someone passes away without saying ‘thanks”, even though the favour would be trivial like, giving side for you, or offering a way for you on the cycle track. How warmth are the responses of the Brits when you request assistance in the shops or outside the malls. With a large heart the Brits know how to accommodate everyone whom they meet on pathways or play areas, where consistency, punctuality, respectfulness and consideration are the four-pillars that they stronghold in day-to-day life.