There are many variations on the so-called “Golden
Rule.” When I was young, I subscribed to the interpretation
that, “He who has the gold makes the rules.” As I grew older
and wiser, I have discovered that, although that statement
is at least partly correct, it does not help you much in your
journey through life; while the true “Golden Rule” is by far the easiest
and most rewarding way to travel.
We know it in two forms: the positive, “Do unto others...” and the
negative, “Do not do to others....” I try to dwell on the proactive version
of doing for others, as I seldom find myself in situations where I could
knowingly harm someone. Generally, if I do so, it is by accident and not
as the result of a conscious decision on my part. Therefore, I am much
more aware of my thoughtful actions that are done with purpose
and design; and, in these instances, I normally find that I have a fairly
well developed understanding of how to make others happy and to do
what I like to phrase as, “the right thing.”
Unfortunately, as good as the Golden Rule is, it does have its flaws;
and, even if it didn’t, I have enough of my own to make it far from
foolproof. George Bernard Shaw recognized a major problem with it
when he said, “The Golden Rule is that there are no Golden Rules,”
his allusion to the fact that every rule has an exception, including the
rule that, “Every rule has an exception.” This occurs on occasion, due
to our lack of understanding of what someone else may want, since
we generally base our assumptions about their desires on our own
personal beliefs or wants. However, in many instances, we have no
idea what another individual wants or needs. The concept that others
are not exactly as we are is perhaps one of the biggest fallacies in life.
We tend to view the entire world in our own image, believing that if we
would want something done in a particular manner, that everyone else
would want the same.
So, despite the failings of the Golden Rule, I still adhere to it as
closely as I can and treat others as I would want them to treat
me. Whether it is something as mundane as allowing another car
to proceed ahead of me to things as complex as a charitable donation,
I refer to this ethic of reciprocity. In the instance of traffic, I find that a
driver will appreciate another driver who extends a courtesy. However,
I have also found that there are other well-meaning acts that are not
perceived by others to be in keeping with the Rule.
Whether you are looking for guidance through life of not, I promise
you that, of all the advice available, there is none as easy to follow, nor
as rewarding, as the Golden Rule.
As my mother used to say at the dinner table, “Try it, you’ll like it.”
I’m not myself today and everybody has noticed the improvement 45