I can recall my Nana telling me one thing, when I was a boy: "No matter what happens, you always be a good person." I have lived by that solemn vow pretty much my whole life. There are no shortcuts, no cheat codes, no easy ways out. Those would be anything but the right thing to do, and for a long time, I've always paid attention to what was right.
It's not always as easy as it sounds.
Doing the right thing sometimes comes with a certain amount of scrutiny. Sometimes doing the right thing doesn't always mean you're doing the right thing according to everyone else. You do one thing good, but people look at you crazy because there was an easier way to do it. Even if it wasn't the most morally sound, it's quick and no one's getting hurt. So why not?
They're wrong.
Just like the means does not justify the ends, their logic does not justify their actions. Even if no one gets harmed, that doesn't mean my integrity and sense of self won't come out intact.
See, what you do, and how you treat people in this life, those are important. They make an impact on you as a person and how others see you. Were you a kind person that treated people well? A friend of mine once said that "We are known for the things that we do, but we are remembered for the kindness we showed along the way."
Sometimes, going the easy way and not doing the right thing isn't always the best way to go.
You can go your whole life stepping on others to get your way and reach the top, but did you really earn that spot? Is it yours? I'd say every person that carried your foot on their head as an unwilling stool step deserves a spot up there too. Eventually, it'll all come back to them in the worst way, and whether they see it or not, karma is already working on a way to strike them back down to the ground, where they probably belong.
"You are known for the things you do, but you are remembered for the kindness you showed along the way."
