So often, I look around and see only hatred or distrust. Look left, a gay person is being harassed; look right, a Muslim is being labeled a terrorist. So often, we look at others and call them out. We hardly ever look at ourselves and see our faults and correct them. I figured this out during my sophomore year of high school but didn’t know what to do. It wasn’t until my junior year that I took action to better myself; I made myself a list of rules by which I guide myself:
1. A man always follows his rules
2. A man who breaks his rules is subject to his own conscience
3. A man always keeps true to his word, even at his own expense
4. A man never betrays his friends or his family
5. A man puts others before himself
6. A man never feels or speaks hate
7. A man will not try to alter one’s political, moral, or religious beliefs
8. A man has no place to judge another person unless he is perfect
9. A man strives to better himself, but he is NEVER perfect
10. A man has no need for violence
I follow these rules almost religiously in my life, almost like a second set of Ten Commandments. There is no rule that is more important than the other; they each must be followed to the same degree. That’s what the first rule tells me. If I don’t follow my rules equally and constantly, then I have no point in having them. The second rule explains what happens if I break any of my rules. I don’t have to punish myself physically to know that I did something wrong, my own mind will be my punishment. I have to live with the knowledge that I’ve wronged someone, and in doing so, wronged myself as well. The third rule is one that I find myself struggling with a lot. So often I find people saying, “I promise I’ll do better,” or, “I swear that’ll never happen again,” but then, almost the next DAY, they are doing the exact same thing they just vowed not to do. It drove me insane and I could no longer tolerate seeing myself doing it. I guess the third rule has made me more aware of the things I say I’ll do, because now I’ve made myself accountable for my actions and words. The seventh rule is also one that I struggle with. It is basic human nature to want to make people see my way, but there is a limit. Once I start trying to convince someone that they’re wrong, I in fact become wrong. I can give someone all of the facts on a matter, but I have no right to try and change their mind on something. If I feel they are doing something wrong or making a bad choice, I can only hope that they will figure it out. And it sucks a lot because people won’t always make the right choice and I watch them get hurt, but I have to remember that I did my part. I hope that people read this someday, and see why I act the way I do. It’s not because I’m a wimp, or that I don’t care. I have rules. I have to follow them. Otherwise, I have to answer to the greatest influence on my life: myself.