i've been thinking about honesty...and integrity...and how their definitions have gotten watered down and their importance is seemingly lost in our cultural climate...
honesty::refusal to lie, steal or deceive in any way; in english the word originally had more to do with honor
integrity::an unimpaired condition; the quality or state of being complete or undivided
looking at the above definitions, i wonder how many of us could use those words to describe ourselves...our friends...anyone with whom we have any amount of interaction
we lie by commission, we lie by omission...we lie, we claim, to protect others...we lie to protect ourselves...we lie, sometimes, without even knowing why...
what would it mean if we were exactly who we are no matter where we are...if every single person who met us could count on us to be real...to be honest...what would it mean if we worked to become trustworthy...no matter what it cost us...
lies are exhausting...living a double life is exhausting...trying to remember who you told what and to keep up whatever appearances you've created is a juggling act that is destined for a disastrous ending...
the only thing in this life we really have is our good name...and, for the most part, we have control over that...
integrity means that we tell people who we are by our words and our actions and that image we create, matches the reality of the person we truly are...
"never separate the life you live from the words you speak." paul wellstone
it is an amazing gift to have someone's trust...we should do everything in our power to not only deserve it...but to guard it...to treat it as the priceless treasure it is...because trust betrayed or lost, even if rebuilt, will always bear the scars of its injuries...
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