Respect

To me everyone deserves our respect.  Whether a person be a King or considered on the lowest rung they need to be treated with the same respect.
Someone once said to me “you treat everyone the same.”  It was out of the blue but I was glad to hear it.  Certainly I will give someone the honour they are due, but I try not to exalt anyone beyond their due.  To me, it is important to find out where a person is at and relate to them on that level if I can.  Sometimes it is not me that can do that, but I am happy to find out for myself.
Some positions hold real “influence” but unless it is built on something real it will run its course.  Unfortunately, until it does, it can cause people real suffering.
I cannot easily dismiss the story of the person that was dressed up to the hilt that assumed a high position at a table only to be asked to go “lower” because someone more “important” than them came along.  To me it is always good to take a “low” position.  If moved up the table great, but if not then a free feed is good any time!
Our table tennis club has taught me heaps about people.  They may be good or aspiring or happy to stay lousy table tennis players but lots of folk hold down important jobs.  From Doctors, to IT people to Cleaners, Unemployed, Retired, and Disabled, all are “key” positions and the wheels would stop turning if they were not there.  Everyone one of us “adds value” and has something another can learn from.
Having said that, I don’t believe what we do defines us, but who we are.  Some people I want to run a mile from as they are only in it for themselves while others, no matter how flawed (as I am one of them) I choose to be with.  Though they can “blow it” often, their heart is good and they are concerned about more than “what’s in it for me?” and winning.
I guess what matters to me is that a person does not think of themselves too highly, and that no matter how “important” they are they are real and care.
​