I Believe Respect Goes A Long Way
Universal Respect Until Proven Unworthy... I have a consistent practice of dealing with everyone with respect until they prove they are unworthy of respect. I make a point of addressing people as sir or ma'am regardless of the job they perform. In truth, if anything, I try to give greater respect to those who perform difficult jobs few of us would choose -- such as janitors, cashiers, and others performing "menial" jobs.
I have even been challenged by friends and family for doing this. "Why did you call him Sir, he's cleaning toilets," they say, "your older and better educated than they are." The reason is this -- they do not earn the income I earn, they do not live in the kind of home in which I live, nor the neighborhood where I live. They do not enjoy the education I have had -- and yet, here they are, doing a job I once performed, or one like it; a miserable, thankless job for low pay and no respect -- and yet here they are, working hard to support themselves, their family, to advance in life even a little bit.
The well educated, the wealthy, the important, know that they are worthy of respect. They receive appreciation, compensation, and respect from all around them. Unless they are my boss or client, I treat them as my peers and do not go out of my way to express or convey respect. But those at the bottom who continue to fight need encouragement. They need to know that what they do and who they are is worthy of our respect.
Finally, I need to remind myself that while I may have more than they, I am no better. We both are human. We are both worthy of respect until we prove otherwise by our actions.
I have even been challenged by friends and family for doing this. "Why did you call him Sir, he's cleaning toilets," they say, "your older and better educated than they are." The reason is this -- they do not earn the income I earn, they do not live in the kind of home in which I live, nor the neighborhood where I live. They do not enjoy the education I have had -- and yet, here they are, doing a job I once performed, or one like it; a miserable, thankless job for low pay and no respect -- and yet here they are, working hard to support themselves, their family, to advance in life even a little bit.
The well educated, the wealthy, the important, know that they are worthy of respect. They receive appreciation, compensation, and respect from all around them. Unless they are my boss or client, I treat them as my peers and do not go out of my way to express or convey respect. But those at the bottom who continue to fight need encouragement. They need to know that what they do and who they are is worthy of our respect.
Finally, I need to remind myself that while I may have more than they, I am no better. We both are human. We are both worthy of respect until we prove otherwise by our actions.
70-79, M
