THE THINGS MONEY CAN’T BUY:

1.  MANNERS

2.   MORALS

3.  RESPECT

4.  CHARACTER

5.  COMMON SENSE

6.  TRUST

7.  PATIENCE

8.  CLASS

9.  INTEGRITY

10. LOVE

In my people-watching game,  it was always fun to observe how people used manners in their daily lives. The way a person acted toward others – have you ever heard people say, “thank you” for a kindness that was bestowed on them – thank you is a word of respect and kindness.  One day I was discussing the word thank you with a person and I asked them – I don’t think I have every heard you say thank you when someone has done a favor for you. Is there a reason?  They quickly replied, “if you say thank you for anything – you are begging!”   What, I could not believe my ears.  That person was 90 years old and had gone through life never, ever saying “thank you” for anything.  I then explained to her why I thought she was wrong. You know what, I never heard that word that I so desperately wanted her to utter.  It just tells us how different people are raised and how wrong it is.

We all know what morals are which have to do with knowing the difference in right and wrong in conduct – always respecting the other person.  

But the one thing that always seemed to baffle people was the word called, “respect.”  One day, a person asked me, “why is it people do not respect me?”  My answer was, “I don’t know!”  But, I do know that my Mother told me, “It was something you earned by being thoughtful, concerned, and considerate of others.”  So, how do you earn respect?  Well, it all comes down to – if you don’t respect yourself, others sure won’t respect you.  

Then there is character.  How do  you build character?  What if you robbed a liquor store – would that build your character? Not hardly, building character is being honest in all of your endeavors and treating others like you would like for them to treat  you.  

After that comes common sense – what is that all about?  Common sense – why I thought everyone knew and had common sense!  How do you get that?  A lot of people say you are born with it.  I don’t believe that.  To me, it means you think about a decision before you make it to see how it will affect you short-term or long-term – in other words – don’t be stupid because you are in a fit of anger.  

Fourth from last is Trust.  Surely everyone knows what trust means.  Does it mean when you make a promise and then you break it – that people can trust you to fulfill your promise.  No, it means they can’t rely on you.  It is a belief that some person or thing is honest or can be depended on – faith in that person.   

Oh, and the good old word “patience.”  There are a lot of people when they were born they must not have been listening when patience was passed out.  How patient are you?  Do you get upset when people are late or things don’t happen as quickly as you want – especially when you are behind the drivers seat in an automobile.?  

Lordy, and then there is class. What does that silly old word class mean.  We hear it thrown around like – why he has no class!  Class in my eyes  is – when you have not abused the first seven articles that money can’t buy – manners, morals, respect, character, common sense, trust, and patience.  

The next to last item is integrity.  Integrity is a companion of Item 6 – which is trust and which is the quality of being honest and trustworthy with everything and everyone.  

And, lastly, there is the one word that we all want to be a part of and share with the world and that is love.   The definition of love is a deep and tender feeling of fondness and devotion for someone or something.

So how many of these things that money can’t buy are you guilty of owning?  If you plead “guilty” on all counts, you are a very successful, happy person.  You would be surprised at how many people have never owned some of these things and the ironical thing is – all of us aspire to acquire them and hope we have them.  Have you taken inventory lately?

kommonsentsjane