Let's be honest. Ethics is not for wimps. It's not easy being a good person. It's not easy to be honest when it might be costly, to play fair when others cheat, or to keep inconvenient promises. It's not easy to stand up for our beliefs and still respect differing viewpoints.
It's not easy to control powerful impulses, to be accountable for our attitudes and actions, to tackle unpleasant tasks, or to sacrifice the now for later. It's not easy to bear criticism and learn from it without getting angry, to take advice, or to admit error. It's not easy to feel genuine remorse and apologize sincerely, or to accept apologies graciously and truly forgive.
It's not easy to stop feeling like a victim, to resist cynicism, or to make the best of every situation. It's not easy to be consistently kind, to think of others first, to judge generously, or to give the benefit of the doubt. It's not easy to be grateful or to give without concern for reward or gratitude.
It's not easy to fail and still keep trying, to learn from failure, to risk failing again, to start over, to lose with grace, or to be glad of another's success. It's not easy to look at ourselves honestly and be accountable, to avoid excuses and rationalizations, or to resist temptations.
No, being a person of character isn't easy. That's why it's such a lofty goal and an admirable achievement.
I wear a scarlet letter of being a adulturer based off of an opinion of what happened in my rape. My soon to be ex hubby states that I am the worst type of person. Someone who cheats on their spouse. He states this is what makes it easy for him to stop loving me and that I can justify what happened any way I wish to make my self feel better but I will not justify a lie. I live each day under the idea that I am in fact a good person dispite what he may think of me.
To all who read this, I stand by the fact that being a good person is a life long goal. That no one person can be perfect in every situation but that if you try to hold yourself accountable on your emotions and actions that you too are a good person. No body can take that from you.