As archaic as it might seem, I truly do believe in "women and children first." They are quite literally the future of the human race. If disaster should strike and all that was left was one man and a multitude of women, there would still be hope for Man's future. The opposite situation is much more grim.
I believe in honesty at any price. Even one "little white lie" is one lie too many; it eats at your integrity and opens the door for the bigger lie. It is the first step on the road to hypocrisy which, to me, is the ultimate crime against one's self and a those around him. I want my friends to be able to remember that I have always told them the truth as I believe it to be. I will tell the truth or say nothing at all. If you don't want an honest answer, don't ask me the question.
I believe that fear is a good thing. It is survival characteristic. Also there can be no courage in the absence of fear for true courage is being afraid and still strugging to do the right thing anyway. The fearless man is not brave; he is a fool and a danger to all around him. I m not embarassed to admit my fear--I am embarassed to admit the times I let it hold me back.
I believe in helping others. I cannot realistically expect help if I am not willing to give it myself. Also, it just plain feels good to help and know that I have made someone else's burden a little lighter.
I believe in taking sides. The man who never takes sides may never be wrong but he is never right either.
As a corollary of the above, I believe in admitting my mistakes. You can't repair an error if you won't first acknowledge its existance.
I believe in accepting responsibility for everything that I have ever done. I won't accept the excuse of "peer pressure" or similar arguments because when it comes down to it there is always a choice, even if that choice is simply to say "No". That is my single greatest embarassment: the things that I have allowed to be done to me or in my name because I chose to do or say nothing.
I believe in standing by my friends, come Hell or high water. At times, my assistance may be only letting them make their own mistakes. At other times, I may feel it necessary to keep them from dragging others down with them. At still other times, I may be an active participant in their plans. But I have never (that I know of) turned my back on a friend, even though some of them have decided that I am no longer one of their friends, and stand ready to help them if and when the time comes.
I believe in courtesy and respect. These things are the grease on the axles of society. They are the things that allow us to live in proximity to each other. Without them, we would all still be living in caves and eating our food raw.
I believe that, on a personal level at least, a person's history starts when I first meet them. Just because someone treats you one way, it does not automatically mean that they will treat me the same way. The enemy of my enemy may not be my friend. The friend of my enemy may not necessarily be my enemy. You are welcome to your opinion--you are even welcome to voice it. Just don't expect me to listen.
I believe in kissing pretty
girls (I think all girls are pretty; call it a character flaw);
in smiling at kids; and in looking at the stars every chance that
I get.