Don’t compromise

“I knew if I ever compromised, I was going to be in trouble, because if you can compromise once, you can compromise again.” Desmond Doss.

If you don’t know the story of Desmond Doss, I highly recommend spending a few minutes and learning about his story. Whether you agree with his stance or not, once he decided his values, he stuck to them ferociously and saved a lot of lives in the process.

I knew his story and have seen the movie about him but it wasn’t until this week that I had read the above quote. This was his response when interviewed, asking whether he considered just picking up a gun at any stage during the Battle of Okinawa. Clearly, he did not. He had chosen his values and morals and he did not weaken, not even in the face of unimaginable adversity.

I also read a quote by Henry Rollins this week referring to the Global Financial Crisis. He said this over 10 years ago and it is ridiculously relevant right now:

“People are getting a little desperate. People might not show their best elements to you. You must never lower yourself to being a person you don’t like. There is no better time than right now to have a moral and civic true north. This is a tremendous opportunity for you to be heroic.”

He basically could have quoted that today.

This is the perfect time to have our moral true north’s set and hold the line on them.

Like the war and the financial crisis, we have our own adversity to face today, this month, and probably for the rest of this year. Some will face the full force and some will skirt the edges but we are all affected. The morals and actions we choose will have direct impact on the health and lives of others, for better or worse.

Character is a choice. Choose well and then don’t weaken.

Not even once.

Pursue your potential

Dice