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Bernardo De Souza founder of the Honesty Foundation in Goa , India shares , “ As we move on in life , we have to make choices between honesty and corruption . Corruption is not a single vice ; it is the mother of many other vices . All immorality , injustice , violence and all other vices come from corruption . In the same way , honesty is also the mother of all virtues ; love , compassion , kindness and justice are all born of honesty . Corruption brings devastation to mankind . The problem with the human mind is whatever one is focusing on in life that becomes a part of life . So , in our country corruption is increasing in leaps and bounds . It is time for us to focus our mind on the divine attribute of honesty .”
The account is told by a coach in a junior high school . He states :
“ Today was test day in climbing the rope . We climb from a standing start to a point 15 feet high . My job is to train and teach the boys to negotiate this distance in as few seconds as possible . The school record for the event is 2.1 seconds . It has stood for three years . Today this record was broken . … For three years Bobby Polacio , a 14 1 / 2-year-old ninth-grade … boy , trained and worked , consumed by his dream of breaking this record . In his first of three attempts , Bobby climbed the rope in 2.1 seconds , tying the record . On the second try the watch stopped at 2.0 seconds flat , a record ! But as he descended the rope and the entire class gathered around to check the watch , I knew I must ask Bobby a question . There was a slight doubt in my mind whether or not the board at the 15-foot height had been touched . If he missed , it was so very , very close — not more than a fraction of an inch — and only Bobby knew this answer .
“ As he walked toward me , expressionless , I said , ‘ Bobby , did you touch ?’
If he had said , ‘ Yes ’, the record he had dreamed of since he was a skinny seventh-grader and had worked for almost daily would be his , and he knew I would trust his word . With the class already cheering him for his performance , the slim , brown-skinned boy shook his head negatively . And in this simple gesture , I witnessed a moment of greatness . … And it was with effort through a tight throat that I told the class : ‘ This boy has not set a record in the rope climb . No , he has set a much finer record for you and everyone to strive for . He has told the truth . I turned to Bobby and said , ëBobby , Iím proud of you . Youíve just set a record many athletes never attain . Now , in your last try I want you to jump a few inches higher on the takeoff .’ … After the other boys had finished their next turns , and Bobby came up … for his try , a strange stillness came over the gymnasium . Fifty boys and one coach watched breathlessly as Bobby Polacio … climbed the rope in 1.9 seconds ! A school record , a city record , and perhaps close to a national record for a junior high school boy . When the bell rang and I walked away , … I was thinking : ‘ Bobby , … at 14 you are a better man than I . Thank you for climbing so very , very high today .”
What are the Benefits of being Honest ?
Honesty reveals your character and earns respect . Honesty shows you care . Honesty keeps you out of trouble . Honesty gives you credibility . Honesty gives us freedom . Honesty fosters courage . Honesty creates a circle of love . Honesty attracts honesty .
We can ’ t adjust the moral compass of society , but we can reset our own . We can teach the importance of honesty by example to children and grandchildren , nieces and nephews . Go forth , happiness warriors , be honest and as you do so , global happiness will be elevated , and your life will be filled with great joy !
TO BE HONEST is to be real , genuine , authentic , and bona fide . To be dishonest is to be partly feigned , forged , fake , or fictitious . Honesty expresses both self-respect and respect for others . Dishonesty fully respects neither oneself nor others . Honesty imbues lives with openness , reliability , and candor ; it expresses a disposition to live in the light . Dishonesty seeks shade , cover , or concealment . It is a disposition to live partly in the dark .
William J . Bennett The Book of Virtues
26 iF Magazine | March 2017