Doing the Right Thing: A Reflection on Choices and Humanity

Every day, we're presented with countless opportunities to make a choice about doing the right thing. It could be as simple as picking up a piece of trash or returning a shopping cart to the designated holder instead of leaving it in the middle of the parking lot for someone else to handle. These small acts reflect a broader principle that impacts how we interact with the world and those around us.

I can think of many examples where we make a conscious decision to do the right thing—or not. One of my pet peeves is seeing people take up multiple parking spots or parking in handicapped spaces without a permit. These actions may seem minor, but they represent a disregard for others and a focus on self-interest. You would think that as humanity progresses, we'd be more considerate of others, but often, we see the opposite.

In business and personal life, putting others ahead of ourselves is crucial. Successful businesses thrive when they prioritize their customers. Likewise, families flourish when we care for each other selflessly. Our actions, no matter how small, contribute to the overall well-being of our communities.

I was reminded of this recently during a visit to a client's suite at a Lancaster Stormers Ballgame. It was a guys' night, filled with Christian business leaders and a shared sense of camaraderie. As the evening progressed, the typical excitement ensued when t-shirts were thrown into the crowd from the folks standing on top of the dugout. A staple for any ballgame. From my vantage point, I saw a t-shirt tossed towards a little girl with her grandparents. She reached up eagerly, the shirt slipping through her fingers and landing right behind her. The shirt was hers, however her little hand couldn't stop the momentum. A woman behind her and a few seats over ran full speed to snatch the shirt away, picking it up and celebrating like she had won the lottery.

Watching the little girl sit down, tears streaming down her face, was heartbreaking. Her grandparents, unaware of what had just happened, couldn't understand her sudden sadness. In that moment, I felt compelled to act. I made my way to the concession stand, purchased a stuffed Cylo doll, and gave it to her grandmother to cheer her up. The girl and her grandfather, I can only assume, stood up to go for a walk to calm her down.

As I settled back into my seat above, our group saw two other people approach the family with t-shirts, giving them to the family, having witnessed the same scene I did. This moment reaffirmed my faith in humanity—there are good people who care about others.

Seeing that little girl's smile was worth more than the $20 I spent. The real lesson here isn't about being holier-than-thou; it's about recognizing the impact of our actions. That girl learned two things that night: there are people who only think of themselves, but there are also strangers who care and show compassion.

Doing the right thing extends to everyday actions we might take for granted. Here are a few more examples:

• Holding the door for someone or saying thank you when someone holds the door for you.
• Allowing someone to merge in traffic and using your turn signal.
• Not driving in the left lane without any awareness of the line of cars behind you.
• Giving your seat to someone in need on public transport.
• Helping someone lift their luggage into an overhead compartment.
• Helping someone reach something on a top shelf in a store.

The list goes on, and I'd love to hear more examples from you. Please share in the comments how you do the right thing in your daily life.

I encourage you to think about your actions and take one extra step to do the right thing. These small choices build a legacy of goodwill and empathy. We know in our hearts what the right thing to do is—let's act on it. If you can be anything in this world, be kind. It's free, it's valuable, and we need it more than ever. - JL