"One never knows how loyalty is born"
An interesting quote from the show Mad Men that highlights the idea that we really don't know what's coming for or at us. Chance encounters and unexpected circumstances sometimes lead to wonderful things. Where loyalty will come from and in what manner and how it shows itself are fascinating thoughts to ponder.
The loss of loyalty is easily connected to trust and betrayal. Whether in a relationship of the romantic kind or the platonic kind, what does it really matter after all, it's hard to think of something worse then betrayal when discussing relationships. I'm sure we have all had our fair share going both ways...it's not a pretty thing is it?
I consider myself a loyal person. Staunchly so. The fact that I am loyal to those that are loyal to me is easy, that's the way it should work. But I work in a world where personal integrity matters as a badge of honour. Along with your willingness to suffer through pain and injury while holding up your end of the line. I'm sure it's like that for many people as we don't have the market cornered on integrity or loyalty, but like the military or any team environment with intensity I do think there is more expected in return for that degree of allegiance. It never seemed to be as important when I watched other departments of the less intense type function, on the contrary there seems to be an almost gleeful excitement in knifing your fellow employees in the back. Loyalty being replaced by fealty to one person as opposed to one team. Your fortunes being tied to the fortunes of another persons whimsy and conniving. You can imagine my response to this skulduggery...throat punch much? Having it foisted upon me on a few occasions I can tell you that it is completely tiring and completely counter productive to the smooth running of an operation. Sometimes you simply have to endure.
While the picture I just painted is a negative one this thought certainly is not. I have seen first hand on numerous occasions the benefits of properly based loyalty. Be it with an individual or an entity the world seems a little less onerous when you have a loyal group of people to go to war with. I suppose that is why the military goes to such pains to instil it amongst its young shaven recruits. I have been part of amazing teams that were completely "all in" with the group and we accomplished great things together. And, sadly, I have been on teams that could't punch their way out of a wet paper bag because of the lack of cohesion and trust amongst them all. It's a vicious cycle that does so much more harm than can be appreciated....literally sucking the will to live out of you. But even here, whether out of shared camaraderie or simply like minded people coming together, loyalty has been born. Out of the ash heap of dysfunction grew trust and kinship. I'm sure my more predominately positive approach to life plays here and I am glad it does...the thought of living like a bitter old miser wondering who was coming to stab me in the night seems almost unbearable.
There are no cryptic messages here, I simply say it how I mean it. Loyalty is intrinsically related to honesty as it is to trust so simply be honest and open. I wish more people were like that, it just feels like we would be a lot happier that way if you know what I mean. Like any relationship it doesn't need to be so hard. So full of things that really need not be there. Of course there is a good to better chance that I am full of shit and have been dropped on my head too many times but there you have it.
Peace unto you
Ciao
D
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