How do you want to be remembered?

Every day, we are encountered with choices.  We choose whether we want to get up in the morning; we choose what we want to eat; we choose what we want to wear; we choose whether we want to go to work.  In a typical day, we can't even begin to imagine the number of choices we are responsible for making.  For those of us who have dependent children, we even have to make choices for them as well.

There are a lot of what I call "black and white" choices that we must make each day (meaning that they have "hard" consequences) and "gray" choices (meaning that they have "soft" consequences).  The "black and white" choices, for most responsible people, are the easy, common-sense choices to make.  A choice such as this would be whether to go to work or not.  It's pretty easy to see that choosing not to go to work may have a very "hard" consequence, such as getting fired, and then not being able to pay your bills and keep your financial commitments.

The difficult choices we all make on a daily basis are the "gray" choices.  An example of a gray choice is what you want to wear on a particular day.  If you pick a black outfit versus a brown outfit, there really aren't any consequences that would lead to you losing your job or something along those lines.  Perhaps the worst consequence could be getting arrested by the fashion police if your attire is out of order! :)

However, there are some "gray" choices that do have major consequences, and I want to take an opportunity to talk about those important choices.  One major "gray" choice we make on a daily basis is how we choose to treat other people.  If we choose to treat people in a disrespectful manner, with little consideration given to their interests or feelings, the consequences may be great.  If we speak and act in a way that shows little regard to what possible effects our words or actions may have on others, the consequences could be major, in regard to how we are viewed by others.

So, when you are making those important "gray" choices, please think about the consequences related to those choices.  Ask yourself, "How do I want people to remember me?"

Do you want to be remembered as a considerate individual, who respects other people's opinions and thoughts, or do you want to be remembered as someone who aggressively pursues your own interests with no regard for differing thoughts or opinions?  Do you want to be remembered as an individual who seeks to collaborate with others, or do you want to be remembered as a vindictive and selfish co-worker?  Do you want to be remembered as someone who creates conflicts, or do you want to be remembered as someone who creates solutions?

Remember that words are more than just words, and that to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

It really is a simple question -- How do you want to be remembered by others?


Best wishes,

-Victor