R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Must be earned.

A friend and I were talking about our module evaluations yesterday. About a certain lecturer, Dr. R, doesn't really have anything content-related to say during lectures and tutorials. We mimicked him, we mocked him, we made lots of fun of him. And then another friend said, "Eh, respect a bit la, he's still our lecturer, you know".

That sparked off a whole discussion about respect.

I am of the opinion that respect is not accorded. You don't get respect because you've got certain qualifications, or because you're in a position of power or authority. No, for me, it has to be earned.

It's who you are that gets respect. Your character, attitudes, believes, values... you get respect by proving yourself over and over again, by being dependable, by being worthy. It starts with respect for yourself, and for those around you. It reflects on the way you carry yourself, the words you speak and the words you don't, as well the little things you do or don't do.

If what you do or what you say is not worthy of respect, you can demand to be respected all you want, but you're never going to get it. The only way to actually get respect is to be worthy of it - and then it comes automatically.

And I hope I am worthy.