Do Unto Others

The African Yoruba proverb, “One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts,” is one cultural variation of The Golden Rule - the fundamental moral principle espoused by world religions.

Have you ever thought how happy we would be, should you and I choose to shift our focus from making lists of things other people must change for our convenience and happiness to one of genuinely treating other people as we want to be treated - regardless how they treat us in return.

For example, on a morning walk we smile and say hello to people we pass. Some people will return our smile and some will smile and say hello. Others ignore us.  And, a true ass may bark, “What are you looking at, Pollyanna?” If we allow ourselves to be offended by people who do not return our friendly gesture, then we will become unhappy, angry or judgmental.  Anticipating a friendly response is our personal-importance expecting a reward for being kind. However, if we smile and say hello, simply to smile and say hello, then we have taken the lead in treating other people as we want to be treated.

When our focus shifts to being compassionate then we change. When we change, we change the world.