When I was a young girl, Dad taught me to do a good job of sweeping grass clippings from the foot path. He used this phrase ‘Always do this little test, make your good better, and your better best‘. He was teaching integrity and work ethic. He taught it to many of the young men who worked for him over the decades, as well as his children. Our Mother was, and still is, a role model of integrity.
That is how I know it when I see it.
I was going for my usual walk one morning this week when I saw the man depicted putting advertising flyers into letter boxes at a nearby complex of units. I couldn’t help but notice the precision with which he was working. Notice how nicely all the flyers are tucked into the slots. The flyers were neatly folded and organised in the bottom of his delivery wagon, too. He was so mindful about his job I couldn’t help but admire him, even though I dislike the ‘junk mail’ as much as many people do. Here was someone, no doubt making small money, but doing the job with integrity.
So, when I look at this photo I see, the smallness of the task need not reflect smallness in the person. I shot the photo from a lower angle so that we could all look up to him.
And when I got home from that very same walk, there in my letterbox was the following notice…
I wonder how many will do the job with this man’s integrity?
(This is part of a series of photos based on an original post titled ‘We’re the People‘)
For some people the work ethic is ingrained. Better to work at something than not to work at all. And the job, no matter how small, is done with the precision you mention Ardys.
Sounds like your Dad continually passed along the right message.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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Thanks David. I think Dad was one of those people in whom the work ethic was ingrained. He couldn’t do anything by halves.
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I like ‘we’re the people’ series very much. In an age where this is a lot of self -congratulatory talk, this series is refreshing. Real people in real life situations. Thanks Ardy for your mindful approach to things.
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Thank you Francesca, I’m really enjoying putting the photos and words together for We’re the People.
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We love junk mail in this house. It makes a lovely change from those enveloped with windows that we usually get. 🙂
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Oh that’s funny, Suz, one person’s trash IS another person’s treasure!
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Great approach to remind us about integrity, Ardys! ‘We’re the People‘ is, little by little, becoming a book. Congratulations for a job well done and many thanks! Take care, 🙂 Fabio
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Thank you so much for the nice compliment Fabio.
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I grew up with the same work ethic and integrity. If we do not see this model today, it is because we no longer teach it to our children and grandchildren. I have such appreciation when I see folks who take pride in a job well done. Nice post, Ardys!
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I can tell from reading your blog you have the same integrity in all you do. Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Lovely post Ardy. I too grew up with a similar work ethic, demonstrated and expected from my mum. I love the photo of this man taken from below so that we can look up to him. X
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Thank you Selma. I love the thoughtful comments by yourself and other readers.
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I love how you are developing the “We’re the People” series. I agree, no matter what we do, we should do it well. And yes, that I learned from my Dad too. What/how-ever I did was good enough so long as it was my best.
From time to time I do a letter box drop in the quest for a parking space… in a street of huge apartment complexes it’s not an easy task, so I admire the work the man depicted is doing.
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