tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005572221369432591.post235762340029864925..comments2023-05-04T02:26:49.748-05:00Comments on Building Personal Strength: A Tale of IntegrityAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00006897130524120094noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005572221369432591.post-896293102175370552010-09-20T10:26:09.502-05:002010-09-20T10:26:09.502-05:00Hi Denny,
Honestly is easy but integrity is hard....Hi Denny,<br /><br />Honestly is easy but integrity is hard. You have to overcome your innermost desires and do what is right. <br /><br />And the consequences can be painful.<br /><br />CharlesAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10054672045151441575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005572221369432591.post-56052289579828359882010-04-03T15:35:32.725-05:002010-04-03T15:35:32.725-05:00Johannes, these are wonderful tales of integrity. ...Johannes, these are wonderful tales of integrity. And you make a terrific point, that we become people of integrity by exercising integrity. It gets easier every time we do it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00006897130524120094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005572221369432591.post-33228257910790857982010-04-03T01:41:03.508-05:002010-04-03T01:41:03.508-05:00Hi Denny,
This situation presented to me about a ...Hi Denny,<br /><br />This situation presented to me about a year ago. My son of 4½yrs old was with me in a small shop. We were in one of only 2 aisles, halfway down. I noticed a ZAR10 note (1USD=ZAR7.2) on the middle shelf. I don't know if my son saw it. I picked up the note, almost automatically - knowing I have to or want to do something with it, I felt odd not knowing easily what to do, and knowing I have to do it quickly aka in the moment. I said to my son: "Hey, look here, someone left his ZAR10 on the shelf. Let’s give it to the shop owner. If that person comes in search of it, the shop owner would be able to return it to him" We walked over to the till. Handing it over, I yet again felt fumbled, and said something along the same lines. We returned to shopping, and when leaving, I could replay the event with my son, including him in the reasoning. I thought about the event a few times after this.<br /><br />I later listened to the biography of Warren Buffet (audio book) where the following situation was conveyed. Buffet was at a conference, and a side attraction was golf, with a hole-in one opportunity offered to all with a significant prize (i.e. a new car, or large money prize.) Someone questioned Buffet why he does not try his luck on this. The book conveys his pause and clear response that he would rather not risk corrupting his judgment by the possible luck in this activity. This rang true to me.<br />[Warren Buffet Speaks by Janet Lowe]<br /><br />It happened again a few months later, I was in the 1 end of the video shop, when I noticed 3 x ZAR20 notes on the floor, possibly where one got up from a computer renting an internet connection. With no hesitation I knew what I intended in doing, it was still slightly awkward. Two high school kids were managing the shop. My son was browsing videos; I walked up and handed the money to one of the kids managing the shop, saying in a simple clear communication that someone probably dropped this, handed the money over, and went on to finish renting videos. When leaving the shop I could relay / reinforce the moral to my son and 14 yo daughter.<br /><br />I believe the fumbled feeling in both events were the "muscle memory" principle of your earlier post (http://www.buildingpersonalstrength.com/2010/03/muscle-memory-truth-revealed.html). Being a bit confused, not being clear, mind racing. <br /><br />I think I have now created the muscle memory, and will not feel odd/fumbled next time, because I have been able to play out the situation in its most simple and honest communication. I never seeked to follow-up or get assurance of what will happen with the money further on, this is not the point. I have thought about it some more, because I believe in the good of people, but also that everybody is challenged everyday of their life, and my action can provide opportunity to the next person to develop himself. <br /><br />I think what has also contributed to the way these situations played out was a belief I hold to seek out understanding of myself, situations and others, an acceptance that there are many aspects to life, and we generally have a filtered / partial view of life, and that we should seek out / drill down in situations provided to diversify our observations, rather than consolidate it in order to get understanding and acceptance of life.<br /><br />Thanks Denny.<br />Johannes<br />http://twitter.com/johanneshofmeyrJohanneshttp://twitter.com/johanneshofmeyrnoreply@blogger.com