Do no harm is not as widely taught as some other ideas....not stealing, killing etc. are the easy ones (in terms of notability). Doing no harm is more elusive to teach because of it's widespread and varied nature. It needs to be a state of mind, not just a proclamation, teaching it is hard. It (doing no harm) is kindness to the Earth and it's inhabitants, it's respect to others and their things. It means giving thoughtful consideration to your actions.
I had a discussion with Grandpa A not too long ago regarding this topic. He told me he distinctly remembers learning this lesson as a kid. And proceeded to tell me some local stories...one of kids knocking out lights on a railroad track leading to a train crash and the death of the conductor....and of kids playing with a pipeline that ended up flooding an area in town and causing millions of dollars of damage. What scares me from these stories is that the kids involved were not out to do anything atrocious, yet their actions led to them anyway. The problem with cause and effect is that you don't always know what the effect will be. What I do now, is that you need to give thoughtful consideration to your actions!
As a parent my responsibility and culpability are great. There are so many things to teach and better yet be an example of, it's hard, tiring and great all at the same time.
To my trio of rug-rats, you are so wonderfully sweet, I pray that when life kicks (and she will, because believe me she can be a real bitch) you'll not fold to cynicism, apathy, or being mean spirited. Hold on to who you are for this crazy life and be it.
"Nice guys (& girls) finish last", is just not true... nice people make the world go round and keep it moving. Nice people are those who care about the global population, who make it possible for me to believe in peace, an end to hunger, a clean ocean, and an end to atrocities like sex trafficking.
The "nice" people of the world are the ones who change it. Those who don't throw their garbage out of their car windows (because that's littering) or laugh at the racist/sexist jokes (because their demeaning to others), who stands up for the kid being bullied on the playground (because we treat others how we want to be treated). Being nice takes strength, it's hard, but you can do it, I can do it, it needs to be done.
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