Honesty
I think it was my father who taught me the meaning of honesty-- not because he was fully honest, but because he sometimes
lied to me when he couldn't do what he promised. -- He felt the easiest way out was by telling me a lie. As a young child,
I hated when my dad did that. And, when I asked him, "Dad, you told me we were going to the movies" he replied, "I'm not feeling
well. Besides, I have work to do."
These "white lies" often made me feel bad because Dad rarely did what he promised. From my personal experience, I learned
that it is painful to lie to someone, especially one you love. And I came to the point when I told myself, "I will not do
that when I grow up."
And when I became a little older, he used me to tell his lies to other people. This annoyed me even more, until one day I
decided that telling lies was not correct, and I began being honest. I remember the time when he told me to answer the phone.
He knew it was someone he didn't want to talk with, and I was supposed to answer it . . . But when I answered, I told the
person, "Yes, he is here. Wait a moment," and that time he became really upset, and asked me why I did that.
I told him,
"I decided that lying is not correct, and I will not be your instrument for telling lies," and he just looked at me for a
while, and said, "OK, you're right, I'm sorry."
Since then, the two of us have been honest, especially with each other. Honesty should mean more than not lying. It should
mean speaking the truth in kindness. (For example, if you said we were going to some place and you're not able to go, tell
the truth and apologize, but do not say that you'll be there in a moment when you're not going to.)
Though I started by
trying to teach my dad the importance of honesty, I ended up gaining a deeper understanding of the term.
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How Life Can Change
Alexander is one of my best friends. He has been my friend since I was nine years old. We lived in different towns, but we
always saw each other. We grew up, and we made a very good friendship over all those years. We used to go somewhere to hang
around, have a great time and chill. We went to the movies and then to eat somewhere. He is a great person who helps me when
I need him and cares for me. Once somebody told me: "A brother is a friend by force, but a good friend is a chosen brother."
Alexander is one of those chosen brothers who is there for me. I feel he has my back covered because he is always willing
to help and always concerned about others. If something happens, he will be there to give me a hand.
It's funny how you can be sitting now, and at the next moment your life can completely change. This is Alexander's case. Not
long ago, he called me and we were talking normally like any day. We talked about thirty minutes, and we chatted about everything.
He told how well he was doing, about his girlfriend, and about college. I was happy to hear from him because we had not talked
for a while. We ended talking, and I went to sleep.
Next day, tragedy happened. One of my friends told me that Alexander had had an accident; he told me Alexander was riding
his motorcycle and apparently, he lost control and fell. He was wearing a helmet, but he hadn't fastened it. Therefore, the
helmet came off his head, and the motorcycle fell into his head without any protection. Now he's in a coma, and he hasn't
opened his eyes yet. This was seven days ago, and I don't know if he will remember everything, or if will even wake up.
Only thinking that he might not be the same freaks me out. It makes me remember everything I've gone through with him, every
good moment and every joke. I remember one time we went out to the movies, and we were comparing our friends to the zombies
that were in the movie. Or when I needed help to do my homework, he would just tell me, "Sure man, don't worry. I'll help
you."
I learned a lesson the hard way: Enjoy every moment and thank God for it-- because chances are that you might not have it
again. Everything in life can disappear in a blink of an eye. It's amazing how somebody whom you really appreciate might
not be with you in the next hour. I just hope he gets fine, and recovers completely. I am sure he will. . .
