articulate a personal code of ethics

I’m frustrated with myself this week. I’ve had a lapse in my effort to stop being so self centered and individualistic. I didn’t stop to consider someone who means so much to me. I…. don’t know…my sense of right and wrong failed me the other night. I may have damaged a relationship that was starting to be really important to me and I’m afraid that the guilt will never go away. That this will never repair. That I will never know the full extent of how much I hurt this person. I’d rather have done something that only affected myself.

I’ve been thinking about this one a while and realised I should go ahead and write it. It’s not something that has to be set in stone for all time – if I have things to add or change I’ll come back to it. So here it is:

To work towards living according to the bit of me (and of all people) that instinctively knows how to be. To aim for true humanness, connectedness…
and in the absense of that perfect instinct to use the following as guides for my living…

Be honest

Have awareness… speak and act with intent, and with true consideration of other people and my environment

Remind myself often what I am and what I’m part of

Look after myself

Work for something that I believe in

I wrote mine in 2003 … and still carry it on a card in my wallet all the time. It’s somewhat based on old codes of chivalry, so some people would find it a bit over the top, I guess – but it’s personal to me.

not because I’ve much to add, but to remind myself to think about this more….

I don’t really know how to go about this but I did find a good site on the net (http://www.mycodeofethics.org/) that may help. To some degree I feel unqualified to do this, because I feel like I should have a better understanding of formal philosophy. On the other hand, I also believe (at least to some degree) in the idea of intuition and that I have a pretty good sense of what I know is right and wrong. So, as a sort of compromise, I plan to start doing this at some point but it will be a working document and, as I learn more and live more, may adjust it as new information is acquired.

to the point of boring myself into an early grave…When I say I’m going to do something…my word is my bond…No written contract needed…I’ll do it
I go to work…always…in the 27 years I’ve worked for this company…I’ve called in sick maybe 7 times…I don’t set any world speed records doing my job…but I show up and put an effort into doing it the way I am supposed to and try to be as safe and responsible as I can…I try to treat the customers merchandise as I would treat my own…If they aren’t home, I will leave it safely out of sight and weather if I can…
I’ve worked with food poisoning, pnuemonia, the worst colds and flu you could imagine, a hurt back, broken hand and severe lack of sleep. But I showed up…and did my job…because that is MY JOB...and besides, I am compensated fairly and have some very nice benefits…

That means I expect honesty in return…what’s fair is fair…what sort of relationship can you have if you tell the other…whether it be friend…or more…what you think they want to hear…or what you want them to hear…or even some bullshit story you’ve thought up…...Be true to yourself..respect yourself as much as the person you are talking…interacting with…I will have far more respect for you in the end…If you are a liar…I will have little …or none…

I had to do this for a law and ethics class I took! I learned so much about myself, what I belive, and why I belive it! I learned that some things I felt strongly about came more from a “kneejerk” reatcion, or programing as opposed to education and experience. I learned that there is a big difference between values and ethics although they back each other, and I learned that not alot of people take time to think about these things.

of a commitment to a cause that is worthwhile…and more importantly…a person…

I think is right…and will hardheadedly do it…even if it beats me to a pulp…and it almost did…
Also, I am honest. I would rather come clean right away…and tell the truth about everything…first of all…it puts your cards on the table…you know everyone is on the same page…you don’t have to remember what story you told who…there are no surprises of the nasty sort on down the road…You are putting no false fronts up…(which I don’t care for)...And you are being truthful with yourself…which is as important as anything you will ever do…