Discussion: Golden Rule

Do any of you have pet peeves? What are they?

Who has heard of the ‘Golden Rule’? What is it?

Does that mean we should do EXACTLY for others what we like? For example, lets say I like having my hair messed with, but somebody else doesn’t- should I mess with their hair? I don’t like fish, but Ezra does- would it be very considerate if he made me a huge salmon dinner for our anniversary?

Sometimes we misinterpret the golden rule, or take it too literally. The golden rule comes from the book of Matthew in the Bible. Matthew was one of Jesus’ disciples, the book is his account of some of the things that happened while Jesus was on Earth. It says:

Matthew 7:12New International Version (NIV)
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 
When we do to others as we would have them do to us, that means knowing them. That means treating them with the respect, kindness, and love that we like to be treated with. I don’t want a salmon dinner. But I would love to have a meal prepared for me.
A lot of times in life we don’t think about how our actions may affect others. We get caught up in our own interests and likes, and we may even think we are doing someone a favor, when we really may be hurting their feelings or upsetting them. 
Did you know that your frontal lobes in your brain don’t fully develop until your early twenties? Your frontal lobes are responsible for understanding a longer term outlook- actions and consequences, problem solving and judgement. How many of you have ever acted on an impulse or curiosity, and had a bad outcome? What would have happened if you thought about the outcome- or how what you were doing would affect others? Would you have changed what you said or did? 
For each mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash. I think that age demographic is interesting. You guys know right and wrong, but sometimes might act on emotions or impulses that have consequences you wouldn’t have predicted. It is important to be aware of your choices. To think about who you are affecting, and to ask someone with fully developed frontal lobes for help and guidance when you are faced with tough choices. The golden rule can be applied in so many areas of life. Every action, every choice you make, has a consequence. You can decide if they will be good or bad.

-Karyn