The Choices We Make

"There is a choice you have to make in everything you do;  and you must always keep in mind, the choice you make, makes you.                ANONYMOUS 

 It always amazes me when the truth comes out about the choices folks make, and those choices show their "True Colors". It is disappointing to realize their choice is not at all what you thought it would be. Sometimes the "low road" is chosen when the "high road" would be a much better choice. 

 I visualize a sweet little angel--our conscience?--- and a mischievious little devil sitting on our shoulders, advising us on our choices--having a conversation ---back and forth--good against evil--black against white---A dialogue--a debate ---Is this a choice that will do good or do harm?  Will it benefit us or will it cause harm to others?  If wrong, will others find out about it? If no one will ever know, do I still do it, knowing it is not the right thing to do?  Is it the best choice I can make? What will the consequences be of making this choice? 

Tim Taylor, the Mayor of Normangee, Texas, a small city of about 700 people---where I lived in 1984--- turned himself into law enforcement last Thursday after being indicted by a grand jury for felony theft. The City Secretary, Heather Spikes, was arrested at her home for the same charge. Last summer, the Leon County District Attorney had investigated Normangee city council officials after rumors of corruption arose and either funds or property became unaccounted for. The District Attorney took the case to the Texas Attorney General's Office for further investigation. After being indicted by a Grand Jury, arrest warrants were issued for Tim and Heather, two seemingly nice people I knew many years ago.  

Every day, the news is full of reports of folks who appropriate for themselves what does not belong to them. Margaret Mills, who recently allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from Downtown Waco, Inc., is a perfect example. Greed can truly make a person show his "True Colors" and let the world see who they really are.  Perhaps a thief thinks no one will ever know, or no one will do anything to them. They are obviously not thinking of the possible consequences for the choices they are making.

Sometimes it is not money or greed that is our downfall. Some folks are tempted to use their power or influence to accomplish unworthy goals or achieve a result they later come to regret. Usually at the bottom of it is the wrong motivation for their actions---why did they make that particular choice?  For whatever reason, they have become convinced in their mind that they are allowed to do certain things and get by with it, just because of who they think they are.  Political and religious leaders are the most high-profile abusers who often use their power and influence to achieve an unworthy goal, usually for what people with a conscience consider the wrong reasons.  

When I worked for the Dwyer Group in the mid-1990's and had the wonderful pleasure and privilege of knowing Don Dwyer, he often said ,"If you can dream it, you can do it." Of course, Don meant you should not be afraid to dream big and do your honest, ethical best to achieve those big dreams.

 Don also said to be sure your big dreams were good goals and achievements and not anything  you would be ashamed of the world knowing you did. I think Don meant one could dream something bad and unworthy just as easily as dreaming something good and very worthy, to be careful what you wanted to achieve. And it wasn't just achieving a worthy dream, it was HOW you achieved it that was most important. 

It is sad to see the choices some folks make, without a thought to the consequences. All actions have consequences. Would that we could always make the good choices with the best consequences, since we don't always get a "DO-OVER."  

Remember:   Make the choice----Don't let the choice make you!