TwoCents | R.E.S.P.E.C.T! WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU

There is often this conflict amongst us as human beings, bordering on respect. People ask or demand in some cases to be accorded, and treated with respect. Everyone is entitled to be accorded a measure of respect. At the basic level, in the least. Basic human respect required of us entails; acknowledging the being of others, and treating them accordingly. This means that we should regard the feelings, rights and wishes of others. It may go beyond this, but shouldn't be any less. Having said that, it is necessary that we know that if one is to be accorded respect beyond this level, then one must act in a way deserving of such. This is the point of this write up. People want to be treated with respect, which is valid. The problem is when they want more respect than they truly deserve. While we are mandated by the rules of social interaction to respect others, we are in no way obligated to give more than that which they've earned. In simple terms, if you want to be treated in a certain way, then you should act in a manner befitting of such treatment. It becomes a problem when an individual refuses to get their act together, but expects certain privileges. You should compose yourself according to how you wish to be addressed. An unpleasant person would and should be treated as such. There is something innate within us, that determines how we place value on the people we meet in this journey called life. That value is dependent on their actions, and their impacts in our lives. We may try to mimic this, by faking. But it is never actually the real thing. Think about it. Is there an authentic and sincere value placed on a badly behaved rich person? We often think money buys that value, but it just gets us the cheap copy. If you are completely dependant on another individual like you, it shouldn't come as a surprise if your value score is low. This particular situation is all too familiar in romantic relationships. A lady may complain that she isn't being respected in a relationship. We often sympathize with her, but rarely wonder if she has done enough to earn that respect she desires. She may have completely dumped her responsibilities on her partner, resulting in the predicament she finds herself. Same scenario goes for a man who becomes entirely dependant on his partner. I cite this example because the issue of respect seems to be increasingly common in a boy girl relationship. Long story short, we should make it a conscious effort to behave in a way that begets the respect we want. We cannot be treated more than the level in which we place ourselves. If you want respect beyond the basic level, then earn it.

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