Life's values .... or Character

I practice Sonhahm Taekwondo.

One of the goals of the ATA is to instill certain life skills in the students, and in so doing build their character.

At the beginning of each class or event we recite a declaration or oath.

To me, the declarations we make, is also about how we should conduct ourselves as people in everyday life. I have spent a long time in the Defense Force and as a young officer we were taught the skills of Courtesy, Loyalty and Respect.

I just wish that we can teach these same skills to the public at large. I am seeing and experiencing the lack of courtesy, loyalty, respect, integrity and self-control that the people have around me.

People of a non-profit group being outright rude, children being rude to their parents, senior (in rank but junior in age) people being rude to juniors (in rank but senior in age).

What happened to common decency, courtesy, and respect?

We do not have self-control, and we do not teach our children self-control and even that there are consequences to their actions.

We have become a world full of entitled, arrogant, self-centered people who are disrespecting humanity, not living up to their religious teachings (if they even adhere to a religion), and definitely not event coming close to the oath and promise here.

I respect people for who they are and what they have achieved. I do not have to like them, or be their friend in order to respect them. 

But if I do not like them, then I have no right to be rude towards them.  Sure, we all get tired, and frustrated, and angry, or flustered, but once again does not give me the right to be rude. 

Those situations offers us the ideal opportunity to practice self-control, courtesy, respect and perseverance.

You see, it is easy to reply with a rude answer, it is easy to dismiss someone, but it is not easy to be respectful when you are grinding your teeth, it is not easy to be courteous when your head feel like exploding. But then again, that is the test of true character, of self-control, of integrity.

This is my challenge to you, practice at living life, practice self-control, practice being courteous.