Golden rule never goes out of style

A compliment. A kindness. A smile or word of encouragement.

From finding a shiny penny in a parking lot to having complete strangers hold open a door or let us go ahead of them in the check-out line. Take nothing for granted.

Oh, and also, don’t allow yourself to only be on the receiving end — some of life’s best blessings come from giving to those who have no way of repaying you.

I have admitted to watching some reality TV. One big reason is to study human behavior. It’s always interesting to see how many contestants go on shows like “Survivor” and “Big Brother” and utter the same sentiments.

“I will play with integrity” is a big one. Until it’s quickly forgotten as soon as the cameras start rolling and alliances are forged.

“I’m not here to make friends” is a very popular comment made on shows like “Bachelor” or “Bachelorette.”

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you want to win the guy or gal, at all cost. Except that it is, after all, essentially a game show and not a carnival, seeing as how we can’t really “win” a human being.

Folks on TV, as in real life, also have a thing about “rules for thee, but not for me.”

How many times have we heard someone extend an open invitation for others to “say it to my face,” suggesting they can take the bold and direct honesty. Except they clearly can’t. Because it’s just a matter of time before that same individual is bad-mouthing another to all who will listen and not to the individual’s face.

A long time ago, while at work one day, a co-worker stopped to talk with the receptionist. I wasn’t paying attention until I overheard my name and realized one was making a snide remark about something she thought I had said.

The interesting thing was they couldn’t have been more than 10 feet from my desk. I wanted to jump up and say, “Hey, I’m right here! I can hear you talking about me.”

Instead, I just sat there, my face growing warm. I was at first angry, but mostly hurt.

Sometimes situations happen to teach us about ourselves and those around us. As difficult as that can be, we have a choice in how we respond.

I’m certainly not perfect. But in that moment, holding my tongue and not letting on that I’d heard the harsh words, taught me a valuable lesson about turning the other cheek and accepting people where they are.

Plus the reinforcement to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

Phyllis Moore is a speaker, author and former reporter with the News Argus. She also has a YouTube channel, Phyllisophically Speaking.