By Jack Allen
Editor-in-Chief
To this day, my 87 year-old grandfather, will not be caught dead sitting at the dinner table until every single person has been seated comfortably. When I was little I always thought this was a bit strange, but now my view of this has entirely reversed itself. I’ve realized that my generation, myself included, are the ones who are different, as we have distanced ourselves from common respect and honesty: the things my grandfather and embodied, things as simple as “thank you.”
This idea fostered in my head as a result of what Hall of Fame inductee Huntley Castner taught Mira Costa: to “Be impeccable with your word.” I had the pleasure of escorting Mr. Castner around Costa on Oct. 3rd and introducing him at the Hall of Fame induction assembly. His speech ranged from discussing his time at Costa to his successful career in the restaurant industry, but his first overarching lesson of honesty and sincerity is what touched me the most.
This wisdom inspired me to re-evaluate how I approach my own life. Yes, to “Be impeccable with your word” at its root, means to be truthful in everything you do. But, below the surface, the phrase means holding yourself to the highest standard of integrity and honest self-identity possible.
Castner, who learned this lesson from a book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, wished upon the audience that we would start applying his lesson to our lives earlier than he did. Lucky for me, I am young, and I have time to fail and time to pick myself back up as I adopt Castner’s message into my lifestyle. Although it is a long way to go before my word and my actions become perfect cooperatives, Castner made it clear: give it a shot, because it’s not until we are entirely true to others and ourselves that we can arrive upon this level of impeccability. And then we witness our lives changing.
At some point in our lives, we all try to be something or someone we are not; that’s what makes us normal humans: we mimic the things that appeal to us. But, the norm can change.
So I challenge myself: Keep your word. Practice like you play. For your word should be honest. As honesty is a form of respect which defines who you are not only in the eyes of others but also in your own.
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