I promise myself…
I will not use the color of my skin, my gender, my job, my level of education, or my abilities to exploit myself in any way for profit, for likes, for clicks, for jobs, or for promotion.
I will not blame others for my circumstances.
I will treat every stranger I meet with respect.
I will look everyone in the eye when speaking to them.
I will ask myself one question after I meet someone new for the first time: “What can this person teach me?” OR “How can I help this person?”
I will watch my language and my choice of words around my family and friends knowing how I speak can influence them, sometimes without even realizing it.
I understand that no human being is perfect, especially myself.
I will look for the good in every stranger I meet.
I think the word “respect” is not used enough and will show respect to every person I meet, regardless of their social status, their job, their appearance, their sexuality, their religion, their age or their gender.
I will donate my time when I am not able to donate money.
I will take full responsibility for my actions, even if I hurt someone because I made a poor decision.
I will forgive those who have done me harm or done my loved ones harm.
I will not use social media to spread false information; I will research the truth and the facts.
I understand life is precious.
I believe my actions speak louder more than my words ever could.
I will use my time on earth to live a positive life and not let others bring me down.
I will start everyday with a prayer for people who don’t pray.
I will never boast about any good deed I do.
I will say thank you when I am given a compliment.
I will listen more than speak.
I will stand up for myself to those who try to tear me down with words or actions.
I will not believe everything I see on TV, everything I see in print, and everything I hear on the radio. I understand in this imperfect world that there are dishonest people and sometimes their voices are louder than the honest ones.
I will be honest in all things, even if the truth hurts myself or someone I love.
I will not judge those who are different than me. I will not assume what I don’t understand. I will not ignore what I wish I didn’t hear or see.
I will laugh and smile as often as I am able.
If I wake up everyday able to smile, even if I have lost the ability to speak, or walk, or hear, or see, I will do my best to fight to keep smiling as long as God gives me time.
I will encourage all young people to live their dream, no matter how many times they are told NO.
I will tell everyone who has a voice that although their voice might be small, they can make a big difference.
I understand positive and good and wonderful and joyful are not words that make headlines. But positive and good and wonderful and joyful events and people live in this world and do great things everyday. It’s just small number of people who insist on spreading negative and bad and evil.
I believe if violence can spread, that means the opposite action can happen. And that means there is more opportunity for GOOD to overcome the bad. And set the world right. And maybe one day the bad will be conquered and good will prevail.
I believe at the end of my life, I will think “I could have done more. I should have done more. I would have done more…”.
I know in my life now, I can do more. I should do more. And I will continue to do more.
I believe if everyone wrote their own personal creed, and lived it, there would be better days ahead.