CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
We have all heard, "life is like a box of chocolates -- you never know what you are going to get." I've found that this is often true with people also.
I judge people on various criteria; one of the most important is integrity. The military emphasizes integrity all the time, but what does it mean? You may have heard the expression, "I will not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do." Additionally, the McGraw Hill Dictionary defines integrity as a strong sense of honesty, firmness of moral character.
Getting back to the thought of my favorite candy bar ... I often compare a person's integrity to a big, tasty chocolate bar. When intact, it looks wonderful in that bright, shiny, colorful package. I remember when I was a kid with candy, everyone wanted a piece of my chocolate bar. The same is true with my Integrity Bar.
It starts small. Someone asks me to cover for them; I figure a little white lie doesn't hurt. A friend asks me to say he is sick, or someone wants me to cover so he can take off early, so I say he had an appointment. With that, I give away the first piece of my Integrity Bar. It's not so bad. I helped a friend, and just a tiny piece of my Integrity Bar is gone. It's barely even noticeable.
Next, maybe I tell a little lie for myself. I tell the boss, "I've taken care of it," when I really intend to get it done later. Perhaps I notice the cashier at the base exchange gave me too much change, but I keep it instead of returning the extra money. I give up another little piece of my Integrity Bar. Just a piece off the corner; it tasted good, too. It worked out better for me, and no one was really hurt. Besides, I still have almost all my Integrity Bar left.
A few days later, I'm at work. Maybe I had a rough night and I'm tired, or I'm just sick of co-workers not carrying their load. So I slack off and pencil whip the forms. I've checked out that piece of equipment a hundred times before; I could do it in my sleep. Maybe it's just putting that Enlisted Performance Report together really quickly. Gotta get it done; otherwise, the boss will be on me for being late. Besides, it's only for an Airman. It won't matter if I put my best into it; I'm the best writer in the flight. Maybe I just duck inside to miss retreat. No one sees, and it's such a waste of my time. There goes another piece of that Integrity Bar, a little bigger chunk this time. It's noticeable, but I still have most of my integrity left.
It's getting easier now. I show up for work late occasionally; everyone else does it. Lunch break gets a little longer ... I'm so busy, work is stressful, and the lines are long. Next, I may slip out early. If I can get to the gate before 4 p.m., there is no line, and the day is over. Thirty minutes later, and I'll have to wait in line 15 to 20 minutes just to get to the gate. Besides, the boss is in a meeting. I cover for my friends; it will be okay. Anyway, the boss would have let me go if I had asked. That Integrity Bar tastes good -- a little bite here, a little bite there; yeah, it shows, but it's worth it. More than half is gone, but I still have some, and people know I'm a good person. Of course, I have a bit of a reputation now. People look at me differently. They question me, my motives, and my work a bit more, but that's life.
Things are changing now. People seem different. I notice other people's flaws more. Soon I'm talking about the boss. My co-workers are such losers. I can always find someone willing to listen. A little gossip here, a little gossip there; it doesn't really hurt anyone. There goes more of my Integrity Bar, a little piece to each person I talk about, each person I gossip with. Before long, my Integrity Bar is gone, nothing left. All I have is a wrapper. People don't trust what I say; they are always checking my work. They want to know where I am all the time. My word is worthless.
No problem, I can just go to the shopette and buy another Integrity Bar, but they don't sell them. No one does. This one I have to earn and it takes a long time and a lot more work to get it back than to give it away. That is how it is with my favorite candy bar, the most valuable piece of candy in the world -- easy to lose, worth keeping at any cost.
Time to take inventory: how's your Integrity Bar?