“Love is the only freedom in the world because it so elevates the spirit that the laws of humanity and the phenomena of nature do not alter its course.”
-Kahlil Gibran
As we pan through the chaos of this era, we may find the remains of broken marriages, destroyed businesses, and shattered confidence. But the golden nuggets left glimmering in the dust will be expressions, actions, and symbols of loyalty. Because wealth can evaporate overnight and material possessions can disappear with the strike of a match. But true loyalty, like true love, is impenetrable to fire, wind, and recession.
I believe the challenges of the day are revealing just who in our lives we can count on for loyalty. Will your significant other still love you if you are broke and out of work? Or is she seeking out a man who can better provide for her needs? Will your boss take care of you in other ways while asking you to take less salary? Or is she taking advantage while you’re down and out?
If you are questioning one’s loyalty during these difficult times, I encourage you to take my Loyalty Test:
1. You tell your employee that you can’t afford to give her a raise because the economy is bad and money is tight.
a. She replies, “I understand. I’ll keep working hard and trust that when things get better, you’ll remember my loyalty.”
b. She replies, “That’s fine. Let’s just hope I don’t say anything about you and the intern in the parking garage on Friday night after the holiday party.”
c. She begins to steal from co-workers’ wallets and purses while they are in the mail room to augment her drop in wages.
2. You tell your spouse that you can no longer afford to go to a fancy dinner on Friday nights because saving money is of the utmost importance in these challenging economic times.
a. She responds, “That’s OK, I totally understand, no problem, but are you sure it’s not because you are a cheap b—— ? I didn’t say that, I’m so sorry, damn me, shoot.”
b. He responds, “Why don’t we uncork that nitris tank in the garage? $5 per balloon just like in a Dead show parking lot back in the day. Easy money and we’ll be able to eat out Friday AND Saturday nights.”
c. She responds, “I’m right there with you. I love you and we can cook at home with good tunes and a cheap but nice bottle of wine and have a fantastic evening!”
3. Your friend is out of work and turning into an alcoholic. Nobody wants to hang with him but he calls you saying, “I really need help, I’m struggling, broke, hungry, and sad.”
a. Everytime this friend calls, you say, “I told you not to call me until you get a job!”
b. You reach deep into your heart and help this friend out… if not with money then with job references, moral support, and a couch to sleep on.
c. You tell this friend, “Listen I know you’re down and out but would you mind if I went out with your ex-girlfriend? She just called and told me she can’t handle your liquor breath and is really needing to kiss someone. Just wanted to see how you felt about that.”
If you chose the following, you probably have a strong sense of loyalty: 1. a 2. c 3. b
If you got one of the above wrong, you might want to look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Just who I am screwing over right now? Myself?” Because one can never truly be loyal to others until he learns loyalty to self. As a wise one said, “Loyalty to one’s own soul… that is the most sacred form of loyalty.”
- While My Guitar Beatles
- Go It Alone Beck
- Travelling Riverside Blues (Live BBC Sessions) Led Zeppelin
- Honor and Harmony G. Love & Special Sauce
- Keep Mediocrity At Bay Van Morrison
- O… Saya AR Rahman & M.I.A.
- Starstruck Santogold
- I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself The White Stripes
- Three Marlenas The Wallflowers
- Kodachrome Paul Simon
- The Longest Time Billy Joel
- This Old House Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
- Angel from Montgomery Bonnie Raitt and John Prine
by David Romanelli (Yeah Dave)
If you’d like to subscribe to my weekly email newsletter The Schtick, email me: yeahdave@yeahdaveyoga.com
My debut book Yeah Dave’s Guide to Livin’ the Moment will be released on March 10, 2009 by Broadway books. To pre-order, click here.
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