Warning: This post might make you uncomfortable and that's not the purpose - neither is it to boast. I just want to document this for myself and my posterity!
I remember when I was in Young Women's and my dear Aunt Darla gave a lesson on integrity. She had a bunch of items on a table with a price tag on them that said "My Integrity". Then we talked about what our integrity was worth.
Would it be worth shoplifting something we just 'had to have'? Would it be worth pirating some music we really loved? Would it be worth telling a little white lie to get us out of trouble?
Bottom line - we have been pirates! I really do want to be honest in all my dealings and so we trashed stacks of cd's and pirated sheet music and even though it was hard to let some of it go (Neil Diamond ballads!) . . . I feel so much better! After all, my integrity is worth more than that right? I try to teach my kids that honesty is best even over little things, or even when no-one will know and I hope that this will be a good lesson to them someday. We are far from perfect, but in this area, our integrity won the day.
p.s. If you should want to attempt something like this (for those of you who are fellow pirates) . . . make sure you have a support person on hand for those really difficult moments (like my phantom of the opera sheet music!)
8 comments:
I'm there with you, honey! my *cough*dad*cough* likes to copy movies for my kids. I let them watch it if he hands it straight to them, but toss it when they aren't looking. I suppose I have passed up the chance to teach a good lesson. Then again, I am avoiding the whole "Mommy threw away the movies you gave us because you stole them and that is wrong!" drama. Dig deep, Laurel, dig deep.
I'm proud of you, Toni. I honestly hadn't ever thought about pirating music being a breach of integrity until I met Travis. I thought he was crazy at first, but now I stand with him. We buy all of our music off of i-tunes and sheet music the "old fashioned way." You'll be blessed because of having integrity. Love you!
Holy cow Toni! I am so impressed! I think it would be really easy to just say "okay, I'll stop and not do it anymore." But to throw all of what you have away!?! Wow! What a good example you are!
So proud of you. I don't know that I could throw away all that good music.
Good move to up the anty on integrity. Not sure putting it online was a great idea....they do check these things, ya know!
I think you are great! I am proud of you guys! Good job! I believe that must have been extremely hard. :) We are done with our pirating days also, I now download music from Itunes.
Don't think I'm as good as you. I can't imagine how hard that was.
As an artist and writer I applaud your stance! Good job. I am sure it was heartwrenching but worth the burden being lifted. You are always an inspiration. I have been facing a similar challenge while going through my closet- if I want my girls to respect themselves and their bodies and dress accordingly- so I better make sure I am a good example for them!
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