My daughter did not want to participate in a balloon toss at our church when she first heard about it. Why? She said it was rude to throw a balloon filled with water at someone; she did not want someone to do that to her.
She was just following what we had been trying to teach her, the Golden Rule. In case it has slipped your mind it states, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
It is such a simple, yet powerful concept.
What a different world we would live in if the concept that many learn in Kindergarten would not be forgotten as we age and live our lives. However, it is easy to forget, especially when others do not treat us very well first.
What a different world we would live in if the concept could be fully applied by us all of the time, in every situation. However, it is nearly (if not wholly) impossible as we are human beings.
If it could be applied by all people, all the time:
Would it mean that people would be less likely to cut off others in traffic? Would they be less quick to judge others? Would they be more polite?
Would they line jump in the grocery store? Would they still glare at a crying child in a restaurant? Would they steal?
Would an employee have more respect for a boss? Would a boss have more respect for an employee? Would there be more compassion? Would there be less corruption?
Would there be less violence? Would there be more love? Would there be less sadness? Would there be more happiness?
Because it can not be applied by all people, all the time:
What if we think about the consequences to others before we act or react? What if we try to have empathy? What if we try to have sympathy?
What if we treated all people as equals? What if we try to show everyone respect?
What if we try and do better for someone else than what has been done for/to us? What if we try to have forgiveness?
What if we smiled more? What if we tried to be polite?
I can’t help but think of how much better a business, government, school, church, etc. could be if more people just followed The Golden Rule more often.
Such a simple concept and so easy to apply if we only keep it in mind all the time … terrific post!