Respect is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot. Many people like to use it, but do they really practice it. What does it mean to you?

                                           The Definition of Respect

Respect used as a noun is a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. As a verb used for instance in the sentence, ” She was respected by everyone she worked with.”

My feeling is that one earns respect. It is not a quality that gets handed to a person for just, well existing. There are many people throughout history who demanded it, but fell short. Does Adolph Hitler come to mind?  At the other end of the spectrum might be the Olympic athlete Jesse Owens, who participated during the Olympics in Germany while Hitler was in power. One deserved it, the other did not.

                                               Respect Your Elders

So tell me, who has never heard this one?  For us baby boomers, it became a saying our parents and grandparents used often. If you didn’t respect your elders, your mouth may have met a bar of soap. Due to recent events in our society, this phrase has taken a very unpopular turn. The decision-making of some of our elders has made headlines and not in a good way. From politicians to religious factions, people have seen that even respect for those with age and experience, means nothing in the short-term.

People should be judged by their peers on who they are, not on age or years of experience. If there is one thing I have learned through the years, it’s that each one of us has a responsibility to treat others the way we want to be treated. Otherwise you have nothing to complain about. I respect a 20-year-old the same way I respect an 80-year-old.

                                Could More Respect Change Things Today

Our society today is in turmoil. There is blatant disregard and disrespect of people all around us. How it got this way is not hard to figure out in my opinion. Everything starts in the home. When children are young, they need to be taught how to treat other people. The problem with many of today’s parents is their lack of discipline in the home. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but a quick swat on the behind never hurt any child. If a child at a young age, sees that they can get away with bad or questionable behavior, a negative precedent is then set. The time to teach respect is early on in childhood. Only then is there the possibility of it continuing later in life. The greatest compliment I received as a mother, was how nice and respectful my children were when out in public. That meant the world to me. I can proudly say today, that as adults, they still carry that same behavior with them. Even when some people may not deserve it, they take it with them.

Mind you, there are moments where some people don’t deserve to get it. Why lower your standards to their level. Kill them with kindness, I say. So just remember one thing. How do you want to be treated?