Reflection on Self Respect

 

"He that respects himself is safe from others; he wears a coat of mail that none can pierce."

  ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

 

I find it amazing that people, in general, succumb to criticism by others.  I have always subscribed to the thought that, if what I say and do is based on my principles and my sense of right, I should not let the words of others make me feel guilty.

Too often those who may disagree with us or want to control us, condemn our thoughts, words and actions.  A few good examples would be: Politics, religion, preferences in music and literature, our manner of dress, the way we wear our hair and our personal preferences as regards life style.

I am and always have been an advocate of freedom of choice.  All of us should have the freedom to decide which direction our life travels will follow.  I resent someone else telling me that I am wrong because I have not made the same choices that they have.  If I choose to wear my hair short when society has decided that the fashion is long, so be it.  It is my choice.  If I choose not to be Christian when the bulk of society deems that to be “right”, I should not be ostracized.  If I choose to wear long skirts when society goes for minis, so what?

I was brought up to believe that, if I could look at myself in the mirror and not be ashamed and could respect the person staring back at me, then I was living with self respect.  No one else looks in our particular mirror, so no one else has the right to tell us the choices to make. 

Just a reflection…..