What Do I Stand For?
While discussing my new obsession with the band, “Fun” the other night, Candace Alper from Name Your Tune CD’s asked the following: “Can you answer the question, ‘What do I stand for?’” This was in reference to Fun’s song, Some Nights, where they continually ask this question. We both agreed that while we didn’t have an answer to the question, that it was definitely worth investigating.
So, here I am, still struggling to answer the question but willing to at least start the thought process here with you. I have decided to make a list of the things I stand for and will hopefully be adding future editions to the collection.
What Do I Stand For?
• I believe in being a gentleman. This includes but is not limited to, holding doors for people, being courteous, giving up my seat for women and elderly, treating others with respect.
• I try to make a difference in my community and beyond by giving back to those who are not as fortunate as I am. I have my problems too, we all do, but it’s not hard to set aside some time to help others and this is something I hope my children will carry with them.
• Kindness always trumps hate.
• My family is my life. Everything else is secondary.
• I don’t have time for drama, nor will I participate in it.
• Pizza.
• Being a good father is more important to me than writing about being a good father. That being said, this blog has helped me become not only a better father, but a better human being as well.
• Smiling breeds happiness; Negativity breeds negativity. You choose.
• Failing at something doesn’t make you a failure. It just gives you the knowledge to get it right the next time.
• I make no apologies for who I am.
• I’ve made mistakes. Lots of them, actually, and while I have learned a lot from making these mistakes, they certainly do not define me.
• The word ‘retard‘ is not in my vocabulary. It was at one time but it is no longer.
• I do not tolerate bullying in any way, shape or form.
• I believe, perhaps gullibly, that I can make a difference in the world.
That’s all I wanted to share with you for now. It was a difficult exercise to not only think of these things but to also question whether they are things that I actively practice. The great part about making this list is that I am far more conscious of not only what I stand for, but also what steps I need to take in order to further back up the above statements. I highly recommend this exercise for all of you out there as well, whether you are a blogger or not, as it was very eye opening.
I leave you with the song that started the conversation and also with the question, “What do you stand for?”