Do the things that matter

Sitting here today, with seemingly more work to do than time, I’m taking a pause to write out a few thoughts and overarching principles that have been shown to be true.

There’s nothing more important than family and friends, many things can happen over the period of a year it’s so important to have a good support system around you. Not everyone around you is an asset, it may be a hard thing to do but pay less attention to those who suck your energy. You can certainly care for them but don’t let them drain you.

Every action or inaction has consequences we may not find out for years what those consequences may be but one day they will certainly show up.

Do it right the first time, I’ve heard more often than I can count. Take time to do it right the first time or you’ll have to make time to get it right later.

It only takes a few people to change the course of something bigger than themselves. Even something that may feel like a small gesture to you may have a much larger impact to someone else.

Transparency is so important if nothing else than to help others feel there is virtue in what’s being done even if they do not agree with the outcome.

Leave things better than you found them, it’s so easy to pass by something and say that’s not my job or someone else will take care of it. If you take care of something as soon as you notice it you could very well be saving yourself or someone else a world of work and time down the road.

Now that I’ve written all of this out, I can’t help but think it was more adequately and succinctly written not long after the civil war and have heard many times over the years.

“Let us add dignity to labor, and in our dealings with fellow men be honest, be just, and fear not. We must avoid intemperance in eating, drinking, and language; also in work and recreation and whatever we do, strive to do well. Let us be quiet peaceful citizens, feeding the hungry, helping the fatherless and widows, and keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.”