I don’t think there’s anything more important to me than my own personal honor, or another way to say it, my integrity. The shortest way I can define it is to say that, at the end of the day, I need to be able to live with myself. It doesn’t mean I always have to be perfect, but it does mean that I should at least try. Important points to me:
- Keep the promises I make, and don’t make them if I can’t keep them.
- Tell the truth, but gently. If I would have to lie, just don’t say anything.
- If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. If it’s not worth doing, don’t do it.
- Keep secrets whenever possible. If it’s absolutely necessary to reveal a confidence, let the person know as soon as possible, preferably before doing so.
- Just because everyone else is getting away with something doesn’t mean I should do it. In fact, it often means that I shouldn’t do it.
- If a rule is stupid, go ahead and break it as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone but me.
- Never start fights but always end them. My own fights, at least. Stay out of other people’s fights unless one person is getting destroyed and really needs a way out.
- When I screw up, the best way to fix it is to take responsibility, make up for it if I can, and then don’t do it again.
- Don’t make fun of other people’s beliefs, even if they throw them in my face.
- The best way to answer an insult is a laugh.
I could keep going, but I think this sums it up well. I can’t manage all this all the time, but it’s my goal to do so, every day.
