Loyalty is a Rare Commodity in the World Today

Be dependable and trustworthy. Do not associate with persons who lack moral values. When you make an error, correct it immediately. -Confucius

Gold is rare, but what is rarer in today's world than gold? Yes, we've been hearing and reading a lot about how loyalty and honesty have become increasingly unusual in love relationships, professional partnerships, and even national crises.

The Collins English dictionary defines loyalty as "a devotion directed toward one's country, philosophy of life, and human beings."

Devotion is a strong term in and of itself. It describes a dedication to a goal.

To summarize, loyalty requires work. It is motivated by emotions such as adoration, affection, and respect. But, in the end, feelings are an emotion that moves (emotion: energy in action), so when the sensation no longer stirs - what follows is EFFORT, WORK.

And for one or two reasons, many of us fail at this level. Actually, there are hundreds of reasons why - but I've discovered that one reason is more often than not the key one.

People expect others to be faithful without first being loyal and honest to themselves and others.

Most people are terrified of being exploited by others, so they construct barriers around themselves. They only reveal their vulnerability and loyalty to others after receiving loyalty from others.

Loyalty, like most things in life, is a choice. By choosing to be loyal, we favor our partner, spouse, or those with whom we have formed a commitment relationship over others.

What about finding a life partner? Do you only offer them half your heart and attention, but expect them to give you 100% of their heart and attention?

Let us face the facts. In practice, this is what happens:

Loyalty is rare, scarce. You could argue I'm pessimistic about this, but please read again. Scarcity is not synonymous with 'none'.

I'm not arguing that all allegiance has been gone. I know people who still believe in it and work hard for it. Unfortunately, more individuals do not believe in loyalty and instead refer to it as "stupidity."

Normalization of various sorts of treachery has grown widespread. "It's called a man, how can he be with the same one woman for years," or "she's beautiful, it's natural for her to have boyfriends here and there."

Tolerance of these principles, along with the convenience of making dating companions through dating sites and apps, causes an increasing number of people to be unwilling to make an effort to preserve what is true. Heartbreak occurs everywhere, tiny falsehoods lead to huge lies, and the consequences of this devastation range from intimate relationships to larger societal interactions.

Our relationships with ourselves, our families, and our friends have a significant impact on our community group. And the same trait may be found in a much larger community organization - the government system. If we lie and betray each other from a young age, what do we do when we assume public office?

Of course, lying and betraying the trust placed in you. That is what occurs in a nation's ecosystem when the principles of honesty and loyalty are not taught and established from the start.

But I refuse to let those people destroy the virtues of loyalty and honesty that we all hold dear.

What I've realized is that I'd rather be disappointed because I'm loyal to the wrong person than be disloyal to the right person because I'm terrified of being wounded and disappointed.

YES. THAT IS MY DECISION.

I am proud of my loyalty to others.

Why?

Because of the reasons stated at the outset. I am confident that scarcity does not imply a lack of people with such ideals; rather, they hide, are afraid, or are already dissatisfied with the prevalent normalization of betrayal and dishonesty.

I am loyal to those I lead and those who lead me, regardless of their loyalty to me. And I refuse to let people who exploit my allegiance influence the way I treat others.

I'm hoping that by writing this, those who still believe that we can inspire and alter our small groups will be rewarded in the future. Wisdom, loyalty, and honesty must continue to be echoed into awareness.

Life is a constant fight till the end. So, too, is the path of love, friendship, and society. Loyalty is a two-way street that starts with our willingness to be vulnerable and loyal to people in the first place.

I once read a Mahabharata story on loyalty that turned out to be quite applicable even today:

At the conclusion of his life, King Yudhistira arrived at the gates of heaven. He was joined by a wild dog he had picked up in the middle of the road after the death of his brother-in-law and wife. God Indra was willing to accept him into Heaven, but not the wild dog. What action did King Yudhistira take? Did he abandon the wild dog?

What King Yudhistira did beyond all expectations. He refused to abandon the dog and prepared to flee the gates of Heaven. But then the wild hound was changed into a manifestation of Dharma, the god of truth and justice. King Yudhistira, the god of truth, ultimately entered heaven with his dog. Yudhistira was known as Dharmaputra, the king of truth duty.

Stories like Yudhistira's are allegorical, yet their message is profound.

And, at 31 years old, I believe I want to be known for my identity as loyal and trustworthy for years to come, until the end of my life.

So, if someone ever asks, "Who is Monica?" My closest friends will respond, "She's loyal and trustworthy."

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Monica JR