Right is Right...

As human beings we confront dilemmas many times during the day. Dilemmas beyond our control and within our control. First off, don't sweat those over which you have no control. Find away around them or through them. If you cannot affect any change, don't spend your valuable time and energy on it. Focus instead on the dilemmas within your control. These are the moments where you make a conscious choice. What will you decide? Sometimes the easiest choice is not the right choice.

I'll give you an example. Years ago I was walking in a park and found a wallet. It was jammed with large denomination US and Canadian bills... I mean jam packed! Thousands of dollars. I never counted it. Did I contemplate keeping the money and tossing the wallet into a mail box so that the ID could eventually make it home? You BET I did! Did I? No. In the end it didn't sit right for me. So I took it home and then opened it. No ID. Nada. The only piece of paper in the wallet that gave any indication of an owner was a children's dental appointment reminder card with a first name scrawled on it. I called their office. Explained vaguely what I had and asked them if they could find the owner. Eventually, a few days later, I got a call from the owner of said wallet. He was able to identify what it looked like and where he thought he could have lost it. Yeureka! I felt so good that I had found the owner. Let's face it, that could have been his entire paycheck in his wallet. He obviously had kids. He probably needed it. I felt that the Universe was smiling upon my good deed. The owner came and picked up the wallet. To be honest, I figured that he would give me some kind of reward... maybe a fairly good one. I mean, I didn't keep his thousands. Guess what? Not even a thank you. Seriously. He took it from me, turned and walked away. WTF? Dude, are you kidding me? OK I'm fine with no reward, but not even a simple thanks for saving my bacon? Wow, some people.

Now for the big question. Given all the circumstances, would I do the same again? Yes. Why? Because no matter what, it was the right thing to do. Was I tempted? Of course. No ID... I could have left it at that and kept the cash. I could have put it to good use. Instead I went the extra mile and hunted him down. I still feel at peace about the decision today. It pissed me off at the time, but right is right. Even when no one is looking.

The bottom line is that regardless of the decisions we make, we need to be at peace with them. Do I live my life like a complete angel? Nope. But every day I try to be a little bit better. I try to learn from mistakes. I try to leave some good where I walk. What would you have done? It's not always an easy decision. I wouldn't fault you either way. It's your decision to make and yours to live with. Peace ❤