RESPECT: A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements
Respect is a character trait that children and adults of all ages should continually try to improve upon. This month I would like to chat about 3 areas that we can show respect.
The first area I would like to talk about is “PLACES”. We can respect places! Let’s look at some examples of respecting places. Here in the DOJANG we can show respect for our training area by bowing towards the flags as we enter or exit the dojang. This shows we respect Choi Kwang Do, America, Korea, and of course out training area. In class when we bow we say “Pil Seung” which reminds us to always do our best and never give up. This is also what we need to do when we are trying to become more respectful. We can also respect places like school or home. How else can we show respect in places? We can make sure we pick up our messes. We should not be leaving our toys out, we should pick up our trash and put it in the trash can, we should put our dishes away and store items where they should be stored.
The second area would be to respect “THINGS”. What type of things can we respect? Everything! For instance, we can respect others toys when we are playing with them. We can respect furniture by sitting on it the proper way. We should keep our shoes off of it and not standing or jumping on it. We can show respect by using things for what they are created for. For instance, if you were helping build something and needed to nail a nail in. You should use a hammer, not the handle of screw driver.
The last area is the most important. We should respect “PEOPLE”! We all have heard about the golden rule right? “Do unto others as you would want them to do to you.” We should be showing respect by listening to others and using nice and kind words. We can show respect to others by using phrases like “yes ma’am / sir”. We can show respect by encouraging others and showing genuine interest in what others are trying to share with us. Being honest is another way to show respect. When we are humble and not prideful we are also showing respect to those around you.
I encourage all of you to put a strong focus on respect as you finish up this summer. It only takes 30 days to make something a habit. Let’s all get in the habit of being more respectful.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.” Philippians 2:3
ACTIVITY
I encourage you to look at the activities below and over the next several weeks or months take time to do some of this activities to help you to continually be working on your respect levels. Some of the items you might even make into a daily priority.
Try to compliment someone every day.
Write out the definition of respect and put it in your room where you can look at it every day.
Design a board game that uses respectful actions or words as part of the game.
Make a list of people you think are respectful and why you think they are.
Write a song or poem about being respectful and share it with your friends and family or even in your Choi Kwang Do class.
Make a list of ways you can show your parents respect.
Memorize Bible verses that talk about respect.
Commit to bowing and saying "Pil Seung" before you enter and as you exit the dojang.
Make a list of respectful phrases.
Using the word RESPECT, write something respectful that begins with each letter
If you were to make a recipe for respect, what ingredients would be in the recipe and maybe draw a picture of the final product.