Is it better to be admired, or respected? Is there a difference? The decisions we make daily have an unfortunate tendency to affect how people view us. What do you want from the way that people look at you? What do you want them to see?
I would like to imagine that when people look back on my years there will be good things to say. I want people to say that I was my own man. That I never sold out. That I measured my decisions carefully and did what I thought was best. I want to be reflected upon as someone that made an impact. Have I had an effect on people in their lives? If so, was it a good or a bad one? Did I sway somebody toward a good decision or a proper path, or did I inadvertently instigate wrongdoing? These are all things that I wonder to myself.
I often mull over these things and begin to wonder how I'm viewed by my peers; my elders; my family. I think the driving answer to all of this is this: think about it. DOES IT REALLY MATTER?
Why do we allow the opinions of others dictate our lives to us? If I'm going to be remembered as a solid person, I want it to be because I was uncompromising in my beliefs. That's not to say that I'll never change my opinions (Digression: I'm as stubborn as the day is long, and I don't like to admit I'm wrong or that I've made a mistake. But I have noticed over recent years I'm becoming less concerned with imposing my beliefs on others and more... accepting? I guess I just don't see any good in people shouting arguments back and forth about everything that irritates them. A debate is just fine: difference of opinion is vital to the development of opinion. But overbearing, aggressive slander gets you nowhere.), because as thickheaded as I am I'm open to new ideas, but it means that I won't compromise on my core beliefs. Morality. Right and wrong. The Big Three: Religion, Government, Society.
It seems that too many times lately I have encountered people who are... passionate... in their desire to have others like them, and approve of them, and respect them. All I can ask is how you expect somebody to respect you for who you are if your greatest efforts go into being somebody that's NOT who you are? Don't change what you're doing, how you talk, what you love, what you wear, where you're going, for sole reason of making an impression on any human being. Focus instead on whose opinions of you matter the most: yours, and the Lord's. Live a life that is good in His eyes, and live a life that you can't help but smile at. If you can accomplish that, you'll discover your worries melting away.
Be you.
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