Life happens. As we navigate the storms and sunshine, we are often faced with choices between right and wrong. What principles and values do we choose to live our lives by? Here, values talk a little about themselves.  Hello! It’s us, your values, calling on you! A child is born, and she is raised. As she grows, we enter her life through the gentle yet firm voices she hears, the hands she holds, and the stories she is told. Stories about courage, honesty, resilience, and integrity. She is encouraged to live by us and to practise us. But we are not truly real until life tests us. To tell that comfortable lie or be plain honest, to cheat on the test and pass, or to simply bear the consequences of not studying enough. It is in these moments that we come alive…because in the end, it is not what you believe but what you practice that matters.    The little girl changes as she grows. Does she discard us or keep us close? Her actions and words will ...

  Trust builds the bridge that carries every relationship.   I’m trust that invisible thread that you humans weave among yourselves when you believe in each other’s goodness and don’t expect betrayal. I’m built slowly. One action, promise, or secret at a time. Then, when you reach the required comfort level, I’m present between you. I’m all about connectivity, reliability, honesty, and protection. Once present, I must be nurtured because I’m fragile. A wrong word or action or lie wounds me deeply and may eventually kill me. There are times when you place me with the wrong people, and then you are disappointed or wronged.   I’m built into friendships, families, workplaces, love, and even in yourselves. If you keep me strong, I can take you through the harshest of storms. I’m the hand that you reach out for. Once I’m lost, finding and rebuilding me is difficult. Yet I observe you give it another shot. I’ve watched you rebuild me slowly and steadily.  I’m ...

  “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”  —Thomas Jefferson, former U.S. president The truth be told, the truth doesn’t go down well with all. Often, people prefer to be told what they want to hear. I don’t always take my husband’s advice but there is one piece of advice that I find valuable. He always urges me to tell the truth. I try to remember that in my day to day dealings. Honesty is the best policy, and that, hubby dear says, will always hold you in good stead. If everybody began telling the truth would it make the world a better place. A  lot of what people don’t want to hear would come out in the open. People would be afraid and uncomfortable. Some would be happy that the truth has finally been told. Telling the truth may get you into hot water, but it would be the best you could do for yourself in the long run.   “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”  —Buddha There are different aspects to telling the ...