Honorable Leaders

"Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is wrong." - Thomas Jefferson

"Who sows virtue reaps honor." - Leonardo da Vinci

"The leader who exercises power with honor will work from the inside out, starting with himself."      - Blaine Lee

"At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance especially if one had no choice." - Maya Angelou

I am so frustrated, tired, and fearful of all the low, demeaning, disrespectful, and frightful political speak and actions that barrage us daily. I am hungry for honorable leaders. As a parent, educator, neighbor, community member, friend, and family member, I know that we all benefit from the leadership of honorable people--people who lead with the wind of positive, humane, and inclusive values at their back.

As a mom of young men, I hope for these honorable leaders for my sons too. I hope that their professors, bosses, friends, co-workers, and coaches will lead them with positivity, honor, and a hope for a better world.

In turn, I hope that my sons and I can continue to develop our ability to be honorable--honorable with speak, action, discipline, and truth.

We do not have to settle for low behavior and goals in our selves or others. As we reach to be better and more honorable, we can also ask that of others too and make it happen together. We don't have to accept behavior, language, or effort that is beneath our dignity or best selves. Yet, we are human and will err, so our efforts to be honorable need to be collective effort where we support one another with trust, transparency, and support.

Who are the honorable leaders in your midst? How do they lead with honor?

Who are these honorable leaders and mentors in your community, state, country, and world--the ones who reach beyond themselves to lead with positivity and promise for many?

Are we at a point in the world, where people no longer believe that to be honorable is a direction of merit? Or are there still many honorable, good leaders amongst us?

Could it be that the messages of the honorable are hidden and lost by the sensationalism, marketing, and money making created by those who use negative and demeaning speak to make their case?

As educators we work to teach honor to students--we reach for creating honorable, just, and fair classrooms where everyone belongs, learns, and contributes. This aim calls us to be as good as we can be so that we model this good work and effort daily. It's not a small call, but it is a worthy call.

What role does honor play in your life? Who are the modern day leaders in your schools, communities, states, and nation that you look to as mentors of this valuable role? What do you read and reflect on to develop your ability to be an honorable leader?

I want to learn and think more about this topic and look forward to your thoughts. In the meantime, I'll work to continue to grow a sense of honor in myself and in the children I teach and parent. Onward.