Be True to Yourself and Others

In 44 BC, on a date that corresponds to our March 15th (Ides of March), Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of Senators led by Marcus Brutus who had been a close friend of his. "Et tu Brute" is dialogue from William Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar". It is Latin for "You too Brutus" and speaks to Caesar's shock and devastation over his friend's betrayal.

Have you ever been betrayed by a friend? Think about how that made you feel. Loyalty is important in order to strengthen the bonds we have with our family and friends. It is the trait I personally most admire in any friendship. Being true to oneself and being true to others is a virtue I admire greatly. How can we instill the virtue of loyalty in our children?

I think stressing the importance of valuing our family and friends and not betraying their trust are important first steps. It is not always easy, but being loyal is simply (1) not gossiping about a person; (2) trying your best to include them in functions; (3) always being truthful; (4) not betraying a confidence; and (5) never saying hurtful things.

If we can instill these five principles in our children, they will always be able to make friends and, even more important, have the ability to keep them.