Once Bitten, Twice Shy
The best gift to give life is contributing to its values. The best gift to give oneself is creating an indisputable reputation. The best legacy to live for is upholding an ethical philosophy.
It has been said and proven many times that a man without ethical values has nothing and a man with them has absolutely everything. Being ethically empowered is not only about upholding personal integrity. It is much about creating an indisputable reputation after demise. As said here, that life is a serious business. At all costs, we want to avoid behaviors that would tarnish our personality and values. Of course, no one is completely saint and ever perfect. However, when the positives supersede the negatives, there is a high chance of adapting to simply positivities, eventually. No matter our areas of expertise in life, no matter our devotions, our commitments, religious beliefs, and what we do, we want to live to contribute meaningfully to life and live behind an outstanding legacy. That is when we actually live. The shyness and embarrassment from a public disgrace wouldn’t end once, it would literally be twice — at the scene and whenever circumstance calls for it. Men who live their lives with ethical philosophies and leave behind such legacies never die — their legacies live forever.
My dad taught me that no one is as genuinely confident as someone uttering the truth. No matter the challenges, the treats, and frustrations, you know you are doing the right thing and stand just with that. Studying the life of a great civil rights activist, Mohandas Gandhi reveals a high level of ethical philosophy. Mohandas was an Indian lawyer who included ethics in his social and political involvements during his time. He lived for that and he is still mostly known just for that. Politics as a case study involves many formal and informal echo voices. Most of which come in form of authorities. I have always been counter-arguing the usual saying of joining them if you cannot beat them. No! You can be among them and be different. There is no crime in standing alone when doing the right thing. “An honest man will utter his ideas to fit the truth. A dishonest man will utter the truth to fit his ideas” John Mason. There shouldn’t be hidden ambitions to truthfulness. Many democratic governments today are not meeting up with societal norms because of a lack of ethics and negligence of personal reputations. They are rather equipped with nepotism and God-fatherism. I once said to a friend that all these nepotistical transitions would have been worthwhile if they are for the good causes of the people. However, the reverse is the case. Nothing lasts forever as a created name — it is either good or bad. Not only will it be remembered for our actions, but our families will own such heritage.
Again, a once bitten is twice shy. We would not only be ashamed and known for things we do, but people will also point at us for them. We, therefore, want to avoid today and tomorrow's embarrassment by involving ethical values in all that we do. Being ethical includes being accountable, respectful, honest, trustworthy, faithful, loyal, and responsible. We should never allow circumstances, positions, and/or frustrations to change who we are. No one will (rightfully) be responsible for our actions except our own selves. Living is never a competition — it is a mission of becoming a better self. Gift life an impact, gift yourself a good reputation and live behind an outstanding legacy.
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