I am posting an excerpt from John P. Weiss’s recent blog post “Have We Forgotten How to Take Care of One Another?”

Weiss was a California police officer and chief for 26 years prior to becoming an incredible artist, political cartoonist and writer.

Have We Forgotten How to Take Care of One Another?

John Weiss, June 13, 2020

Excerpt:

Satisfy your soul

There’s a beautiful video featuring the late author, Dr. Maya Angelou. The video is titled, “Dr. Maya Angelou’s 3-Word Secret to Living Your Best Life.”

Dr. Angelou passed away in 2014 but her message seems especially relevant today.  

Dr. Angelou’s advice is “Just do right.” It’s a simple message that transcends politics, race, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, and faith. It sounds simple, but it’s not. 

Each of us is a complex tangle of history, experiences, emotions, ideas, biases, dreams, and more. Even the best of us can be egocentric, inconsiderate, vain, unforgiving, and hurtful. It takes discipline, focus, education, and time to rise above these flaws.

Dr. Angelou urges us to be the best human beings we can be. She adds: 

“Right may not be expedient. It may not be profitable. But it will satisfy your soul. It brings you the kind of protection that bodyguards can’t give you.”

Every day, you have to make a choice about the kind of person you want to be. For some, embracing a faith tradition helps, because ancient wisdom teaches us the Golden Rule. 

Others follow the secular morality of humanism and the continual search for truth. For example, followers of consequentialism and utilitarianism argue that the consequences of one’s conduct are the ultimate basis for any judgment about the rightness of that conduct.

Whatever moral path you follow, the goal is still the same: Be the best human being you can be. Rise above your flaws and shortcomings. Nurture a spirit of compassion. Personify the Golden Rule.

Dr. Angelou asks you to consider how people will talk about you. If they’re shaking their heads and saying, “Oh hell, oh damn…” then you’re probably on the wrong path. But, if they say, “He’s so sweet,” or “She’s so nice, God bless her,” then you’re inching toward your best self.

None of us are above the need for self-improvement. If we’re honest with ourselves, we have room to be better. We have room to be more compassionate towards our fellow man. We have room to work towards our best selves. Doing so improves not only ourselves but our institutions and society.

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