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200 words, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, doing my best, doing the right thing, integrity, leadership, peers, principles, raising the bar, setting standards
There are standards to which government, religion and higher education should be held. There are examples that politicians and principled businesspeople should endeavor to set, regardless of whether their peers are making that effort. There’s right and wrong, not just better or worse.
And there’s a word for recognizing and rising to that: leadership. We could use more of it. ~ NY Times, Weary of Relativity, May 23, 2015.
I was directed to the above article by Live & Learn.
There are times when I convince myself that I’m doing alright by telling myself that:
- I do better than that other person.
- I’m not as bad as so-and-so.
- This is how everyone else does it, it’s good enough.
- Things are fine, why should I go that extra mile?
- There’s not enough time to do it the way it should be done.
Lowering the bar is tempting, especially when I’m tired. I don’t want to go there though. I want to strive to always do my best. I won’t always succeed but I want to keep that bar raised high.
I want to do right, not just better than others.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
Are high standards important to you?
Jean said:
The challenge is remembering “doing right” is by one’s own standard. One just hopes the other people around you don’t misinterpret. And the best way, as several commenters said earlier, is doing right so that other people benefit too.
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes, I think that may be key Jean – thanks for chiming in! ❤
Diana xo
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Wendy L. Macdonald said:
Diana, I love your post, your quote, and your attitude. ❤ What a wonderful world this would be if we all kept "high standards" in word and deed. Each of us should never give up.
Blessings on your weekend ~ Wendy ❀
PS – Lovely daylilies. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Wendy, blessings on your weekend too! ❤
Diana xo
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rachelcarrera said:
I love your message! ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Rachel!
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Alan A. Malizia: Contagious Optimism! Co-Author said:
Good topic and presentation, Diana.
At the end of the day there is but one face that we look upon in the mirror. We then must ask: Are we pleased with who we see?
-Alan
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dianasschwenk said:
A great question to ask at the end of the day Alan! ❤
Diana xo
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Tracy Lee Karner said:
Indeed they are! Important to me, and to my husband. We aspire to never cheat, never cut corners, never acting as if no one is looking (even when no one is looking). We don’t always achieve our aspirations, but we do try — and we hold each other accountable. I think that makes it easier, knowing that someone you are intimately close to, is holding the bar high (by mutual consensus).
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dianasschwenk said:
That’s wonderful that you and your husband are on the same page Tracy – love what a team you are together! ❤
Diana xo
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Don Royster said:
I am still trying to rise up to followership. Now that is a hard one.
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dianasschwenk said:
Haha! But seriously, every good leader needs to also be a good follower. 😉
Diana xo
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Don Royster said:
Now you tell me.
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markbialczak said:
That is tempting as the walls close in on you, Diana. I agree 100 percent that focus and the high bar must be kept. Good point, my dear friend.
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Mark. I would rather fail to reach the bar than succeed because I lowered the bar. ❤
Diana xo
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Healing Grief said:
Living and standing in our truth can be difficult. The more I do it, the more empowered I feel. I used to lower the bar only because I was worried about what others may think. It’s good to be who I want to be. Great post Diana. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Love that perspective Karen! ❤
Diana xo
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Chatter Master said:
“I want to do right, not just better than others.” That’s a way of life right there Diana. If I would be able to stop comparing and only focus on the right and wrong of what I do, and what I need vs what I want….I think I would be even happier than I am.
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dianasschwenk said:
And you are normally a happy person, I take it Colleen? That’s just awesome. ❤
Diana xo
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Chatter Master said:
Yes, I think I am normally happy. 🙂 Thank you Diana. ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
I knew it! Me too. 😀
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Minuscule Moments said:
Diana, I guess I try and on some days I do okay but there is always room for improvement and its okay to accept we are only human. As long as we do the best we can with what we have inside us. No one is perfect and no one has all the answers either.
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dianasschwenk said:
That is so true Kath. I was talking about the times when I know I’m capable of more and I just cop out… ❤
Diana xo
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Minuscule Moments said:
I think we are all guilty of that Diana.
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Wyrd Smythe said:
“Are high standards important to you?”
Only extremely and critically. I’ve lived my life based on the premise that while perfection is an impossible goal, it’s absolutely worth aiming for. It always seemed self-evident that if you aim for less, that’s the best you’ll ever get: less.
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dianasschwenk said:
This I know about you Smitty! ❤
Diana xo
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Wyrd Smythe said:
What gave me away? XD
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dianasschwenk said:
YOU!
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Wyrd Smythe said:
D’oh! That trips me up every time! XD
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dianasschwenk said:
hahaha
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David Kanigan said:
We’re squarely aligned.
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes. Thanks for inspiring me and this post David! ❤
Diana xo
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Louise Gallagher said:
Jay-walking is the perfect place for me to test my resolve to live to my highest standards, or not. There are moments when I just want to cut across, not wait at the red light, etc. My head says…. there’s no traffic coming, the other person just did it. My higher self said, a just society requires you to uphold every law, Louise. Not just the one’s you pick and choose to uphold because it’s easy.
Great post Diana. I’ll have to go read the other post that inspired you!
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dianasschwenk said:
I get that Louise. I struggle going 30 in a playground zone as others zip by me!
Live & Learn posts quite a few inspiring articles – I think you will like him. ❤
Diana xo
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jmgoyder said:
Absolutely! Thank you for this inspiring post.
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dianasschwenk said:
My pleasure Julie, thanks for stopping by! ❤
Diana xo
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vanbytheriver said:
I saw that piece on Live & Learn, Diana. It was profound. We really shouldn’t pick our leaders because they are the lesser of 2 evils.
I’ve been accused at times of being overly optimistic, even naive, but I hold myself and all those I care about to a higher standard. It seems to have benefited me for a lifetime. Have a great Sunday. 💕 Van
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dianasschwenk said:
It sure feels like we don’t have any other choice than to pick the lesser of two evils sometimes Van, a shame really.
I’ve heard the word naïve many times as well with a few idealistics and simplistics thrown in! ❤
Diana xo
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vanbytheriver said:
How about Pollyanna ??? that one used to make me angry. They never liked me when I got angry. ☺
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dianasschwenk said:
Would you believe I’ve never read or seen Pollyanna? So I googled it and I can see how that might be annoying. But I say good for you Pollyanna, they’re just jealous!
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vanbytheriver said:
lol ☺☺☺
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Ian Munro @ leadingessentially.com said:
What a simple but powerful message! Sometimes messages like this at first seem obvious, but then when I check inside I come up with the question: “Then why don’t I live to this standard all of the time?”
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dianasschwenk said:
Obvious to you, me and some others but when I’ve watched how governments and others have behaved lately, it doesn’t seem so obvious anymore.
I think we all fall short, Ian, but the answer is not lowering the bar, something I don’t see you doing. ❤
Diana xo
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Ian Munro @ leadingessentially.com said:
While we may not lower the bar, we also may not set it an the right height. Think of finding $5 on the ground with no one around. Putting it in our pocket doesn’t lower the bar. Donating it to charity raises it to an honourable level.
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes. Great example. Thanks Ian.
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