Guidelines for life

Courage - Courage is more than just martial courage, especially in our modern times. For modern times, courage can mean the willingness to be a single voice in a hostile crowd, or even just the courage to stand up and be counted in what is sometimes a hostile world.

Truth - Truth is pretty self-explanatory. Tell the truth, even when there could be painful consequences. The consequences for lying are often more harmful than the quick pain of telling the truth and getting the situation over with.

Honor - Think of your honor as your worth in the community. Are you known as a fine, upstanding member of the Community? Do people come to you for advice, and trust your word when it is given? Or do they avoid you, and always look for confirmation of something you tell them? The answer may be a good indication of how your honor is viewed by others.

Fidelity - Fidelity is often thought of in terms of marital fidelity, but there is much more to it than that. Fidelity includes your commitment to your Community, your commitment to your Family/Friends, and your commitment to making the world a better place, as well as your commitment to your spouse or significant other.

Discipline - This is really more self-discipline than imposing discipline on others. This implies a certain amount of discipline to keep oneself from straying from your path of choice into other, perhaps easier, paths. Discipline and fidelity often work very closely together, with discipline providing the willpower needed to retain one's fidelity.

Hospitality - Hospitality is a virtue that you should take very seriously. When a guest comes into your home, offer him or her drink and something to eat. Work hard to make your guests feel comfortable. The virtue of hospitality was very important in almost every ancient society. You never know who that guest really is...

Industriousness - The virtue of industriousness means working hard, and taking pride in one's work, but it also goes beyond that. Are you employed? Disabled? A full-time student? If not, get a job. When you have a job, or are in class, be the person that "gets things done." And this attitude should carry over to your spiritual life, as well. Do your work carefully, pridefully, and well.

Self-Reliance - Self-Reliance fits in very well with Industriousness. Don't wait for someone else to do your job for you. Don't wait for the world to be handed to you on a platter. Those who do it themselves are favored above others. This certainly doesn't mean that you have to do something completely alone if you have no idea how, or if you really just can't do it. What it does mean is that you should learn things from life, learn how to solve common problems, and maybe learn a craft or two. Pick up a book on brewing, or carving, or even plumbing or something. Have a hobby, perhaps one that can make nifty things for you to use. Who knows, you might even be able to sell things and make some extra money.

Perseverance - Times were hard in the old days. Only those who were strong, smart, and crafty survived. Times are still hard. We can't give up at the first sign of adversity. Work, strive, carry on, and don’t give up. Those words embody the essence of perseverance. Whom do we admire? Those who have worked hard, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, and made something of themselves through their grit and gumption. *That* is perseverance.