Rules for Living is not a discovery but more a rediscovery of things you heard when you were a child. Words of wisdom your grandparents or parents told you when you were growing up that would later serve as your guidepost for daily living. They are a set of basic, elemental truths that would help you steer through the many of the gray areas of life’s journey.
They are simple rules – one sentence per rule. Wisdom gathered through the generations before you and passed on from one child to the next till your turn came. You could call it a set of markers that help us put a standard on issues of work, relationships and family. They serve as insights that allow us to consistently challenge our principles of integrity, trust and ethics.
It’s not going to be a set of values that we will be forced to swallow because when you hear it you will reminisce and remember that you heard it before from people that wanted you to live life right. We will also recall that perhaps when we broke these principles we ended up paying a price we were actually willing and unable to pay for in the first place.
Here is a rule we are sure will remind you of these simple principles.
1. If you move it, put it back.
Under this rule we are made to realize of certain boundary markers we have moved in our lives. These are boundary markers we have been conscious of moving or have not realized it has been moved. Discussions are done on the need to return things to the original position, changing the world’s standards by working on your standards first and the issue of wasting time on the wrong things.
Life inspection questions are also brought into lecture and discussion like boundary markers for your family.
What is your family about?
What will you tell your children about what is right and wrong?
What will you not compromise on?
Ex. The red traffic light at 2am
The pornographic magazines at the counter
Respect for the elderly
Respect for women
Lying via text or phone calls
Issues of bribery
Life inspection on your personal boundary markers:
Have you set it?
Is it clear word for word?
Have you told your children or those you love about it?
Has it been moved?
Examples of boundary markers for children are discussed:
- I will not hit
- I will not keep secrets
- I will not lie
- I will not use bad language
- I will not use drugs, and if I know someone who uses drugs I will find the right person to help them
- I will treat others with respect
- If I make a mess I will clean it up
- I will pick up my clothes and keep my room neat
- I will talk to Mom and Dad about my problems
- I will do my homework first before I go out and play
Examples of boundary markers for adults:
The world needs people
Who cannot be bought;
Whose word is their bond;
Who put character above wealth;
Who possess opinions and a will;
Who are larger than their vocations;
Who do not hesitate to take chances;
Who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
Who will be honest in small things as in great things;
Who will make no compromise in wrong;
Whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
Who will not say they do it “because everybody else does it”;
Who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as prosperity;
Who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are he best qualities for winning success;
Who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
Who can say “no” with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says “yes.”
Other rules that will be discussed:
If you open it, close it.
If you turn it on, turn it off.
If you unlock it, lock it up.
If you break it, admit it.
If you can’t fix it, call in someone who will.
If you borrow it, return it.
If you value it, take care of it.
If you make a mess, clean it up.
If it belongs, to someone else and you want to use it, ask permission.
If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone.
If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions.
If it will brightens someone’s day, say it.
If it will tarnish someone’s reputation, keep it to yourself.
If it is not broke, don’t fix it.
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