As a child I used to watch Mr. Rodgers and Family Ties. Those values helped me achieve the personal and professional success that I have experienced in my life.
Ultimately in life we have to choose our values. We absorb them from our environment, and then when we have challenges we have to choose the kind of person we want to be. Most people choose to do the easiest thing in life, but lasting peace and contentment is not built on the easy path.
Lets be specific. Mr. Rodgers taught me that speaking softly and being kind was so important. I embraced this and the way that I felt that he cared for me, I cared for others. This isn’t to brag about me, but rather he was a mentor that I wished to emulate.
Family Ties was the same. Their supportive and loving family was touching to me and I wished that I could have been part of it. It was amazing that no matter their personal differences of character/opinion, ultimately they cared for each other. This was the direction that I wanted my life to go. I decided that I would treat my human family with as much love and kindness as I could.
I’m not telling you what you should be or your values. I’m just sharing that being kind and loving has made my life a whole lot easier than being something else.