Doing the Right Thing

How many times have you been told through the years, “Do the right thing”? I’d venture to guess, as a child, most kids are told this rule more than when they become adults. It seems we are really never too old to hear this golden rule though. Why? Because there’s so much truth to it.

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy. And as the another saying goes, do what is right, not what is easy. A lot of times it actually isn’t easy to do the right thing! It can often times bring us completely out of our comfort zone to do the right thing. There are other times, however, where doing the right thing is within our comfort zone, but just takes a bit of courage to take action or speak the truth.

Today’s culture is ruthless. Truly, in my eyes. In my lifetime I’ve never witnessed such sadness, destruction, friction amongst people, inability to communicate, disrespect, and entitlement. It deeply saddens me, honestly. All too often in today’s culture of millions of people it seems easy to take the easy man’s way out instead of doing the right thing.

I digress with a quick story to prove my point. Do you remember in grade school working together in groups, for those of you in your early 40’s and younger? Do you remember how it seemed that one or two people did all the work in the small group, while others in the group slipped by with doing nothing and getting a good grade because of the one, or two, individuals that did all the work for the required project? I remember this happening to me. It happened in junior high school and I was the one doing all the work. The other three classmates slipped by with literally doing nothing. Honest.

I went home and told my mom about what was going on, how the other classmates in my group were not doing their assigned piece of the project. She told me with love, compassion, and a caring heart for me, “Kelly, you need to talk to the teacher about this.”

Mom then helped me figure out what to say, without pointing fingers at the others in my group for literally doing nothing. The next day I approached the teacher. She listened to what I said. Afterwards, to my complete disbelief, this is what the teacher stated to me, “You and the others in your group need to figure this out. That’s why you are working in a group. Talk to them about this issue.” I’d already told her I talked to them a few times about this, and reminded her of this. It didn’t matter, her answer was the same and then she ended the discussion. I was shocked, in disbelief, and then was frustrated, and then angry.

Long story short, I talked with the peers in my group again and of course nothing changed. The three of them skated through the project with everything I did to get the grade we got. Needless to say, I wasn’t pleased with the outcome. That, however, didn’t change my being able to look back to this time in my life and know that what I did was the right thing, no matter the outcome. It wasn’t easy doing the right thing, but it was worth it. Why? It taught me that despite doing the right thing, the outcome may not always be the way I want it to be. It also taught me to use my voice more, speaking up when I see something that isn’t right, and voicing it, no matter the outcome. And the other thing it taught me was that doing the right thing is truly the right thing to do, no matter how uncomfortable it can be or the persecution that may come with it.

I remember, after that group project, hoping I never had to have that teacher again. I had half of the school year left and because it was a big school, and this teacher taught a few different classes, it may happen. I was grateful I never did get stuck in her class again. Although, indirectly I did have to deal with her as classrooms came together for a particular subject. It was inevitable. During that time, I had to learn to somehow forgive the teacher, and move forward without the past group project always at the forefront of my mind. It all worked out, for the most part.

Doing the right thing is really the right thing to do. Like I said earlier, sometimes its easy, and sometimes it is anything but easy. I do say that the older we get and the more we speak up and do the right thing, the easier it does get.

In my sharing this story, I truly hope and pray that each and every one of us chooses to do the right thing in any and every situation we come across. Whether it’s standing up for what we believe in, holding someone accountable, ending a relationship, sharing a hard truth, or bringing awareness to something. May you have the courage and words to speak forth and do the right thing! You may even find that doing the right thing makes your heart lighter and you have more joy in your life!

Have a great week and go forth in every day and every situation doing the right thing!