Respect

Respect for others is an expression of esteem; it is an activity that demonstrates the person respected really matters. To respect the opinion or the work of another person is not a sign of agreement but is recognition of worth. All of us value respect because we want to think that we matter, that we are of consequence. Further, we all want our opinions respected, not so much for the sake of agreement, but because we, through our conclusions matter.

To respect others we need to take our attention from ourselves and place it on another person. If we are so wrapped up in our own activities, our own opinions, we will ignore the fact that those around us matter too. Our family, friends, associates are in our lives for a reason. They are not an intrusion or an appreciative audience, but they are an integral part of who we are. If we cannot respect others we cannot respect ourselves. For what are we if, because of selfishness, we ignore the worth of all those in our lives? Are we fit only to be catered to, to take bows, to be wallow in praise and affection?  Or is our lot in life to bring about meaningful change through being an inspiration to those around us?

How little an effort is required to inspire others. Most often it is simply a matter of paying attention; to respect them by demonstrating they really matter. To respect the opinion of others because whether or not we agree with their conclusion, their opinion likewise matters. In our electronic world where we can multitask, we cannot give all of our attention to more than one person or one thing at a time. Who in our lives is not worthy of all of our attention, what have they done that is so unimportant it is not worth our recognition? If we cannot respect those in our lives how can we possibly respect ourselves?

It may be time we slowed down for life is not a race but an experience. The quality of the experience is not measured by its volume but by its meaningfulness. Success in not a matter of how many friends we have but how good a friend we have been. It is the depth of each experience and not the volume that makes for a life well lived. Let us resolve to take people one at a time, to respect who they are, how they feel and what they do. What we leave undone is insignificant compared to what we accomplish by taking the time to show others they matter. Let us draw liberally from the well of kindness, and shower all of those in our lives with attention, with respect, with tenderness, and love.