Dignity and Respect. These are the watchwords by which we conduct our profession as Soldiers/Civilians working for the US Army.

Often though, honestly, it’s hard. It’s frustrating. It would be so much easier to treat others with dignity and respect if “they” would just, oh I don’t know, deserve it…

People can be so hard to work with.

Here’s the thing – treating others with dignity and respect has nothing whatsoever to do with them and their actions – it has everything to do with us and ours. It is a testament to our own character when we can reach deep within ourselves and teat others with the dignity and respect we give ourselves even when they are not returning in kind.

Here’s a reminder I ran across and thought worth sharing, “Our inner strengths, experiences, and truths cannot be lost, destroyed, or taken away. Every person has an inborn worth and can contribute to the human community. We all can treat one another with dignity and respect, provide opportunities to grow toward our fullest lives and help one another discover and develop our unique gifts. We each deserve this and we all can extend it to others.” – Author Unknown

We are the ones who make dignity and respect happen.