If You Torpedo My Credo I Will Resort to Aikido

I apologize for the title; it is frivolous; one the other hand, maybe you just browsed the dictionary  (or at least the Merriam-Webster website) to see what I'm talking about.  Maybe the rest of this will clarify the subject--or not
 

I make it a habit to refrain from any comments regarding my job, or the people I work with or for.  This is not really a deviation, but it comes from something that was discussed at a recent meeting I attended.  Normally, I take speeches about inspiration, motivation, and how to be a better human being/employee with a grain of salt.  After all, it’s expected and generally kind of repetitive.  However, this one I took to heart.  I think it just might be age-related, because I have been thinking about things like this on and off for several years.

The topic is a “Personal Credo”.  To me this means the things that define you, your actions, and your decisions.  A statement which, when read by people who know you will elicit a nod of the head and instant agreement.  Which means it’s also a statement that reflects who you really are, not who you think you should be or something you want other people to believe about you.  At the meeting, it was suggested that we share this with our co-workers and our loved ones.  It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now, removed from the aura of the rarified atmosphere of the meeting room, I realize it might just bring forth a lot of eye-rolling and “yeah, whatevers”.

So here it is; I can’t see your eyes rolling or hear your snarky comments (although they are always welcome in print, of course). 

                                                                                   My Personal Credo

1.       Make a positive difference in the world each day.

2.       Never stop learning (I believe brain cells start dying off when you lose interest in acquiring new knowledge).

3.       Everyone deserves the best care their society can offer. (Yes, I mean health care, but I also mean respect and justice).

4.       Family is always the #1 priority.

5.       The parent-child relationship is the most important one in life (I can further expound on this, but I hope the meaning is fairly clear).

6.       How I treat animals is a reflection of who I am.

7.       Honesty of self (By that I mean that it is impossible to avoid all mistruths; sometimes not being completely honest is a better choice; honesty of self means being true to your inner core).

8.       Expect respect (I hope this is self-evident; however, it has taken me many years to learn how to do it).

Ok, maybe you think it’s a little sappy—that’s ok.  I noticed that the Credos of some at the meeting only consisted of 1 or 2 sentences.  I lot of them had something to do with God and Faith.   Mine is long and religion-free, but it feels kind of spiritual to me.  I welcome all comments and would love it if you would share yours with me.  Whether or not you put it into words, I know you have one.