Great Vexations

As a teenager, my mom would always warn me that my reputation precedes me. That heeding has stayed with me till this day. So I have always tried to keep my word, keep my promises... I have always tried to be someone with moral fiber, character and honor.

But what does that matter in the times that we live in?

Why should we care about those things, when we live in a world where terms like 'cut-throat' and 'dog-eat-dog world' are the common expressions of our times. When the belief system is that “nice guys finish last”....

The only time I hear the word honor these days, is when people speak of their maid of honor in their wedding and the funny thing is that the responsibility of this person is to help you with your dress and throw an awesome party before the wedding...

Wow!! Is that a really what defines honor? Parties and dresses?

The old oxford dictionary defines honor as honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions. If I put this forward to most people, the response I would get is that this standard

is too high to follow.

'Every man for himself' is an easier standard... the 'good Samaritan' is forgotten.

A friend once asked me,” If you could be present at your own funeral what are the things people would say about you and would any of those things be true?”

I have chosen to write my own eulogy from that day... because I wake-up deciding, I will be a good person … or not.

I have chosen that my word is my honor, I have chosen to raise my son to be a man of his word...

Where the combination of his qualities and actions distinguishes him as a man of honor, with exceptional character.

So I put this question to you... What is the legacy you will leave behind? Or is currency the only legacy we care about? Is the ink we use to sign a contract more valuable then the words we speak?

I want to live in a world where the labor of my tongue is of greater value than the signature scribbled by my hand....