DEPENDABILITY

Respect is often earned by one's dependability. If others know that a person can be relied on upon to speak honestly, to act in times of crisis, to contribute with generosity, to use wisdom in making decisions, and to be faithful to family and friends—that person has earned respect.

In ancient times, Indian people demanded a high level of integrity from anyone within the Tribe who was to have a place of leadership. The men or women who were to hold a place of honor in adulthood had to earn the respect of their Tribe starting at puberty and continue to be dependable their whole lives. Erratic behavior, laziness, disrespect for Elders, or criticism of others could mark a person as lacking leadership ability.

The way people lived their lives as the manner in which they earned the right to be depended on. Every Tribe depended upon their leaders and the decisions those leaders made for the survival of the whole.

In modern times, in all cultures, we often forget to consider out children, our mates, and our elders. These members of out families would like to depend upon us. When we examine our lives, we must ask ourselves if we have earned their trust. The past cannot be changed. But in the present, we have the opportunity to make amends by changing our attitudes and actions, remembering how it felt when we were not supported. There is no need to pass on the hurt to the next generation.

Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine

I don't know, these days honesty doesn't seem to matter. Kids seem to be disposable, spouses practice serial bigamy, and elders don't act like elders. In fact sixty is the new forty and very little eldering is getting done.