Rodney Dangerfield wanted it. Aretha Franklin and Reba McIntire sang about it. But what is respect?
While substitute teaching a 5th grade class, I learned that they had only one classroom rule--respect. I thought, “WOW!” But if you all practice that it is all we need.
Self respect means knowing your own value and taking pride in who you are. If you respect yourself, you can make you own good decisions instead of going along with the crowd that is making poor ones. It means having a high moral character and taking care of yourself, not out of selfishness, but to be able to take care of others.
Respecting others means taking into consideration their needs, wants and feelings in making your decisions. Recognize that we are all unique and have different talents. Wouldn't life be boring if we were all clones of each other? Maturity means you can respect that another person has a right to his own opinion even if it is the opposite of yours.
Respecting property means taking care of it and not destroying or vandalizing someone else's possessions.
Respecting parents, teachers, and authority figures when they are not letting you do what you want as a youth is very difficult. However, keep in mind they have much more life experience than you and one of the uppermost goals they have is to keep you safe.
Respect for a higher power is a controversial subject. Not everyone believes there is a God (or whatever name you know him by), but we all should respect the right for people to exercise their own beliefs as long as it does not hurt others.
It is very sad today to see the lack of respect shown in many public places with a good many people talking on their cell phones. A recent school program the 2nd and 3rd graders put on was constantly bombarded by phones ringing and people talking so loud that the students had to sing louder to be heard above it. What message were those kids getting? You are not as important as this phone call! I don't have time to share your accomplishments! It's okay to be rude! Cell phones interrupt meetings, concerts, movies, dinner conversations, etc. This is very disrespectful to those who are waiting and shows total disregard to their needs and feelings.
Road rage is not only frightening today, but totally disrespectful. My 19 year old son and I were on the interstate highway a few weeks ago where there was road construction. It was supposed to be no passing with funneling into one lane. One woman in a big SUV was flipping people off and pulling into the middle of both lanes because it obviously made her furious that people were passing her. People continued to pass and even drive around her on the shoulder and she kept flipping them off and I am sure using some choice words. My son asked me what she thought she was accomplishing by that. I don't think that other people not doing what they should gives one the right to be disrespectful and rude back.
Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all lived by a one word rule? RESPECT!
