Honesty Is the Best Legacy
The Merriam-Webster Online dictionary defines honesty as “fairness and straightforwardness of conduct.” The dictionary provides another definition: “the quality or state of being truthful and fair.” Honesty is one of humanity’s virtues and is synonymous with words such as honesty, probity, honor, and integrity. The dictionary defines legacy as “something (as memories or knowledge) that comes from the past or a person of the past.” A legacy is what one leaves behind or that which one is remembered for. Human beings often strive to leave something behind after they leave (die or shift from their initial state). Most people work hard and earn money that they hope will sustain their families for long. To some people, leaving their families with a secured future materially is a good enough legacy. Others believe that material things are not enough and therefore, strive to live their lives well hoping that those behind them will follow suit. Regardless of how one lives their life, the truth is we all care about the legacy we will live behind. Of the good things that people get remembered for, honesty ranks among the most treasured. Leaving a legacy of honesty, whether at one’s former place of work or to one’s family is indeed a great achievement and this article will provide details why.
Honesty strengthens the relationships that people have whether it is with their family members or with their friends or co-workers. Honesty often translates to trust which is one of the foundations of relationships without which relationships would not make sense. When people embrace honesty in a relationship, they tend to influence their partners or friends who are also forced to embrace the same. The above does not mean that people bent on betraying you will abscond their plans of doing so, but one’s honesty can indeed change and impact another person for the better. Being honest is indeed a great way of showing people that you value them and that you always have their best interests at heart. This in turn helps to strengthen their trust and faith in the relationship.
Secondly, embracing a culture of honesty can also be the drive for change in the world. Most of the world’s problems can be attributed to the many wrong political decisions that are developed by dishonest individuals who are self-centered and bent on doing evil. Dishonest individuals have led the world to situations of war and currently, they are still driving and enforcing laws that will only drive the world further into troubled waters. A good example of dishonesty at international level is the Cold War. The US and Russia have never been the best of friends and history confirms this statement. After the Second World War, the US and Russia embarked on years of suspicion and deceitful agendas that were bent on dividing the world into two factions. Some of the problems we have today can be solved as long as the world leaders decide to give a benefit of doubt to their counterparts and act in honesty.
In conclusion, human beings are a combination of virtues and vices. Honesty is one of the virtues of humanity but only a few choose to embrace it. Aside from helping us forge strong relationships, honesty can also help us to solve some of the issues that world is facing. Honesty comes in a package that includes integrity, respect, and honor, and it is clear that people can do more good than bad if they decide to be honest with each other.
