Life Chapters – Respect

Rude People

Have you noticed how increasingly rude some people seem to be these days?  When driving in the car, shopping in the grocery store, in the movie theater, at sporting events, where you work, and even at church there seems to be so many more rude people than when I was growing up.  When you encounter a rude person, how do they make you feel?  Do you feel annoyed?  Do you feel angry?  Or, do you just chalk it up to the perceived notion that this is what our world has become?  I suggest that rudeness may stem from a lack of respect.

Respect Yourself and Others Will Respect You

Respect begins with you.  Do you respect yourself?  If not, don’t expect others to respect you.  Wearing sagging pants so everyone can see your underpants, using foul vulgar language, yelling at people or being insulting or making fun of others is not being respectful of yourself.  Growing up my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles all taught me to “do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”  Living by this rule makes the world a more civilized place.

The world we live in is very diverse with many different types of people all coming from many different cultures, languages and races.  Our diversity enriches our lives and who we are helping to make the world more interesting, but only if we all get along.  The only way to enjoy life in a diverse world is to have respect for one another.

Showing Respect

Respect can be demonstrated in many ways.  The way we speak to each other plays a big role in a respectful diverse world.  Speaking politely in an unhurtful manner shows respect to the person you are speaking with.  Simple things like yes, no or thank you go a very long way.  Having tolerance for different beliefs demonstrates respect.  A respectful person views everyone as a person with rights, regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity or race.  Respecting others in our diverse world is a necessity of life.

Respect is defined as the acknowledgment that someone or something has value.  Considering the definition it is easy to make the connection that respect means we may not always agree with what someone may say, but we must always respect what it is they say and their right to say it.  Respect is earned through showing respect.  If you have no respect for yourself you will never gain the respect of others - you must walk the walk and talk the talk.  Those individuals who are most respected are those who inspire others to achieve their best by enabling them to unlock their highest potential through an understanding of mutual respect.

“Respect yourself and others will respect you.”―Confucius, Sayings of Confucius

“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.”―Albert Einstein

“How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day…You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.”― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free